Buttoned up
If there’s one problem we all share – no matter which harp we play – it’s replacing strings! I don’t know anyone who springs out of bed of a morning and cries, “I sure hope a string broke in the night so I can put on a new one!”
Nope, no one I know. You?
Like you, I know that with practice the knots get easier, string ends are less likely to spring from your fingers just as you place them, knots don’t pull through as often, and that eventually there’s exactly the right amount of slack for the wind. I know all those things are true.
But I also know that, no matter how much I do it, I have yet to come to love replacing strings. So, I’m happy for anything that would make it easier. One of you asked me about this, so let me expound.
I LOVE STRING BUTTONS!
You might have seen them. You might have heard me go on and on about them already. But you might not have given them a try yet.
String Buttons are made by Dusty Strings. Here’s what they look like (photos patently stolen from the Dusty website). I know, they don’t look like much. In fact, they look like you got them at JoAnn Fabric. Really, they look like you reached into Johnny Cash’s button box.
You might think that I just love them because Dusty makes them. But you’d be wrong. I love them because they make life easier! They don’t just remove the chore from replacing a string. They can be an important part of growing older with your harp.
Wait, what? Well, think about it as we become more experienced humans, things change. String Buttons can help you weather the changes. Whether you have poor acuity, or your vision is changing – you might find handling thin strings and bits of string ends to tie a knot is becoming more challenging (especially in low light). Or you might find that your hands are not as flexible or as strong as they might have been so gripping the string and the string end in a knot might be harder than it was before. Or you might have built up a dread of making knots over time and ongoing battles with strings not knotting up quickly.
In addition, String Buttons are inexpensive. They come in packets of 12 and are just over a dollar a piece ($13.95). I just tossed mine in my tuning package (where I have the string ends) so they are ready when I need them.
I hope you check them out – let me know what you think. You know I want to know so share in the comments!
And what does out favorite luthier think of them? Would a few in red and blue give these old eyes a quick location reference, I wonder.
Good point – I didn’t ask our favorite luthier, but I should. I don’t know that they need to be red or blue since they go inside the soundbox. They wouldn’t really help your geography from there.
what a riot! you got several more comments on buttons than on many Music topics!
😄
amazing who knew? all the *&^% tying onto sticks or- paper cigarette filters….
I know,right?!🤔
My harp is about due for restringing, so I purchased three packages at Somerset last month, along with a holster for my tuner. The holster is working out well, and I have high hopes for the buttons.
I think you’ll be happy but definitely let us know when you’ve used them!
This is news to me! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Not a hack,just a suggestion!
Love, love, love them!
💚
I think the string buttons are great. I don’t personally use them, but if they work, perfect. Just as an alternative or if you break a string before getting the string buttons, here is a video showing my string tying method which is so easy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLslEP1t-b4
Let me know if it works for you.
And here’s a cool way of putting on a bass wire. In the video, I say leave an extra inch of string, but really it should be an extra 3 inches.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgmrKe44o-E
Sharon Thormahlen
Thanks for sharing this resource Sharon! But for nonvisual people (like me) no number of graphics, drawings, and videos make those knots easy! And thanks too for adding the base wire info – those cannot use the String Buttons but they still break!
I’ve been using them for a year now and they’re great! So much easier than trying to tie fancy knots around a piece of rawhide or thick filament. And I’ve stopped trying to to do the mysterious “harp knot” through the pin. Just a knot works fine as long as you get the wrap right.
So true!
I finally purchased a package of buttons this summer (why did I not do this when they first came out?). There’s now one on my harp (so far) and it was so easy. Love this new invention! And love your blog of good information and words of encouragement!
Thanks Kris! I’m kinda looking forward to when my harp looks like a tux with a string of fancy buttons! (But fortunately I haven’t had that many strings break!)