Experimental Instrument Prototype (think wiessenborn cross guqin cross I dunno)

Hey everyone.

Over the last year or so I’ve been on this forum I’ve been reading througha lot of the posts and just mainly watching what people are doing and how they’re doing it and slowely but surely building up my knowledge of construction of musical instruments.

Well, Nebula Instruments (a company my mate and I have started) have produced it’s first few instruments over the past month or so.

I’ve been harvesting my own bamboo from my girlfriends farm and building didj’s and plan to build flutes and xylos with it too (possibly rainsticks and some other things also)

Last weekend I built the prototype to an experimental instrument. This instrument is pretty much a guqin (chinese zither) but modified to suit my vision.

Here are some photos, although I will post more tonight.

the plan is to use open tuning and a slide to play it (in the same fashion a weissenborn is played) and hopefully get a bit of a different sound, or the same sound, either is good!

But I have run into some trouble with strings… I bought two packets of nylon acoustic strings thinking “that should be suitable for what I need, I’ll experiment with different strings in different positions and tunings etc etc etc and have some left over for spares” well… I didn’t factor in that they would be a certain length now did I, as I bought the strings the day before I built, I didn’t check them until after I’d finished and was ready to put them on and play.

So I have a few questions, does anyone know where I can buy strings from that will be long enough? I’ll need strings that are 1.5 – 2 metres long probably for it, I haven’t got it with me at the moment so I’m not sure of the proper dims but a rough estimate would be 1.5 metres… anyone know where I can buy a set of nylon strings this long? (silk is also acceptable… just not steel, I don’t want steel strings)

I’ve tried a few music stores in Brisbane (allans, billy hyde) and they can’t help me unless it’s about a guitar, and I don’t want to pay anything over $100 for them in case it doesn’t work and they’re a waste…

Secondly, if not does anyone how to make strings?

And lastly, what do you all think?

Keep in mind it’s a pine prototype so the timber isn’t exactly the best stuff on the market but suitable for proto builds at least. Not sure what I will build the “real” one out of yet… any suggestions on that would be helpful too


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Looks interesting. (Not that I read it all. I tend to skip over lots of writing.:rolleyes: ) Just wondering if something like Koto strings might be long enough. :shrug: And harp strings must come in fairly long lengths. :think: Good luck hunting.:U

I suspect you would find viol strings that are long enough. I doubt you'd then from a shop in Brissie though. You could try one of the speciality violin shops and see if they sell viol strings. Otherwise you will need to mail order them. I have no idea of prices, but viols preceded the violin family and were gut and wound gut strings like gut string guitars. They ranged in size from similar to a violin to about Cello size. The strings for the larger instruments should be long enough for you I think (but maybe check first just to be sure).

Peter

There is also double base strings. :shrug:

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Originally Posted by tea lady

There is also double base strings. :shrug:

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They are steel, not nylon.

:doh: Here I am googling for someone else.:rolleyes: Here is a link to a place in the US (of coourse.:rolleyes: ) that do custom harp strings. They reckon that you can tell 'em what length you want and what note you want and they can wind custom strings for you. :cool: Sounds pretty cool to me.

Markwood custom harp strings, harp cases, folk harp, Irish harp, Celtic harp, lever harp, folk harp strings, folk harp cases, harp kits, harp hardware, harp tuning keys, sharping levers, laser harps, custom harps, carved harps, cross strung harps, do

Quote:

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Originally Posted by tea lady

:doh: Here I am googling for someone else.:rolleyes: Here is a link to a place in the US (of coourse.:rolleyes: ) that do custom harp strings. They reckon that you can tell 'em what length you want and what note you want and they can wind custom strings for you. :cool: Sounds pretty cool to me.

Markwood custom harp strings, harp cases, folk harp, Irish harp, Celtic harp, lever harp, folk harp strings, folk harp cases, harp kits, harp hardware, harp tuning keys, sharping levers, laser harps, custom harps, carved harps, cross strung harps, do

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thanks man, yeah i've visited here before... was just wondering if anynoe knew anything cheaper.

But yeah, the moment i saw it i thought that i'd go for that one if all else fails.

thanks for trying though!

i was going to get this mob to do my strings for the 'real' version later on... but i may have no other choice. so thanks for you headsmack-googlesearching

I know some classical players use flourocarbon fishing line. The Delcamp classical guitar forum will have threads on specific brands. From memory the issues come when you get to the higher gauges. Here is a string seller I found out about. http://www.stringsandbeyond.com/singlestrings.html There are a lot of internet string sellers.

Interesting looking instrument. Harps etc use Spruce for the soundboards so you cant go wrong there but the bigger question is what do you think your customers will be willing to pay? Instrument timbers can get pretty expensive. It also depends on how much work the soundboard is going to do. Im assuming you are going to add a bridge to control string lengths. The resonant qualities of the soundboard timber will greatly affect the finished instruments sound. Other timbers to consider would be Western Red Cedar or Bunya Pine, King Billy Pine, Huon Pine etc

[QUOTE=tea lady[/QUOTE]

Thank you so much Tee Lady, I looked at your blog and saw a picture of what looks like the black spur and thought to myself there's a place I haven't visited in in a long while.

I'm gonna stick a new battery in my bike tomorrow and head up to Buxton for a counter meal and a beer and remind myself that life's not all about busting my a*^)^ss.

Kindest regards to all

Wal

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Originally Posted by NebulaGuitars

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So I have a few questions, does anyone know where I can buy strings from that will be long enough? I’ll need strings that are 1.5 – 2 metres long probably for it, I haven’t got it with me at the moment so I’m not sure of the proper dims but a rough estimate would be 1.5 metres… anyone know where I can buy a set of nylon strings this long? (silk is also acceptable… just not steel, I don’t want steel strings)

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Hi, I get my strings from here

strings: - OnlineShop Musiksaiten - music strings online shop

There is nowhere I know of in Australia to get longer strings.

They have the lengths you need, you don't say how many strings, but for 12 it costs me around $70, but they are high quality lute strings and well worth the $, and you can get any guages you need if you want to experiment, the price depends on the guage and composition of the string.

Since it is an experiment with longer strings than are usual, you may find this String calculator handy to work out the guages for your tuning...

Arto's String Calculator

Good luck, I'm curious to see/hear how it turns out, I like experimenting myself.

Cheers, Steve