Phosphor Bronze Sub-Bass Strings

for Steel-String Harp Guitars

Updated April, 2013

(including vintage and modern Dyer/Knutsen style instruments, Gibson instruments, and other vintage American instruments and modern instruments.  Note: Many vintage guitars had options of being strung with either steel, silk and steel, or gut, and often originally used silk and steel or other compound string sub-basses.  Please consult a vintage guitar expert if you are unsure about your instrument)

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Tuning & Gauge Guide

includes: 

  • Stephen Bennett Tuning

  • Dyer 6-bass Standard

  • Dyer/Knutsen 5-bass Standard

 Sub-bass Sets

  • Stephen Bennett Tuning (new variants)

  • Andy McKee (regular and long scale)

  • Michael Hedges (Because It's There)

  • Dyer 6-bass Standard 

  • Dyer/Knutsen 5-bass Standard

  • Gibson Style U

Sub-bass Singles

from .034" to .100"
in either  D'Addario or John Pearse

Phosphor Bronze Sub-bass Sets

Harp Guitar Music sub-bass sets are specifically put together by harp guitarist/engineer Gregg Miner (the "harp guitar pope") for balanced, average tension to provide optimum tone and feel while retaining a comfortable safety margin for both modern and vintage instruments.  These handy, pre-gauged sets are exclusively offered only at Harp Guitar Music.

NOTICE: Compare your instrument's string lengths against Gauge Chart above.  Harp Guitar Music is not responsible for any instrument damage incurred by stringing.  Please consult a vintage guitar expert if you are unsure about your instrument.

Dyer Harp Guitars and "copies" with similar scale*
 * For different sub-bass string lengths, contact me before ordering

Stephen Bennett tuning: Harp Guitar Music D'Addario set
(6 sub-basses, light/medium tension)
The original, inexpensive set that Stephen started with
.070 .066 .062 .060 .054 .042
G A B C D G
$16.95
Stephen Bennett tuning: Harp Guitar Music John Pearse set *
(6 sub-basses, balanced light/medium tension)
*In comparison to the D'Addario, set, this uses a .055 for the D and a .072 for the low G, for optimally balanced tension.
.072 .066 .062 .060 .055 .042
G A B C D G
$29.95

Stephen Bennett / Andy McKee Low E/F tuning:  
Harp Guitar Music John Pearse set *
(6 sub-basses, balanced light/medium tension)
*This set substitutes a .076 for the low string, Stephen's current practice, as his low string is often E or F, and is still safe for the original G.  Similarly, it is ideal for handling Andy's various tunes.  If you never deviate from a low E, then request an .080 in place of the .076.
.076 .066 .062 .060 .055 .042
E/F A B C D G
$29.95

Long Scale Andy McKee set (Bennett tuning) by John Pearse *
AVAILABLE BY SPECIAL ORDER ONLY
(6 sub-basses, designed for Michael Greenfield's fan-fret McKee harp guitar) Core is 48" long, winding is 44"
*This is Andy's custom set for his Greenfield harp guitar
.070 .066 .062 .060 .054 .042
G A B C D G
$29.95

Standard 6-bass Dyer tuning, Light: 
Harp Guitar Music John Pearse set
(6 sub-basses, balanced light/X-light tension*)
 *This set is lighter than I would prefer; limited by currently available gauges
.080 .072 .068 .062 .060 .055
F G A B C D

$36.95
Standard 6-bass Dyer tuning, Medium:
Harp Guitar Music John Pearse set
(6 sub-basses, light/medium tension*)
 *This set is is optimum, except for the .080, which is necessarily light, while we wait for string manufacturers to get with the harp guitar program!
.080 .076 .068 .064 .062 .056
F G A B C D
$36.95

Standard 5-bass Knutsen/Dyer tuning:
Harp Guitar Music John Pearse set
(5 sub-basses, balanced light/medium tension)
.076 .068 .064 .062 .056
G A B C D
$27.95


Michael Hedges Because It's There tuning for 6-bass Dyer: 
Harp Guitar Music John Pearse 5-string set *
*NOTE: This first Hedges set is designed specifically for Dyers and copies with 6 sub-basses, even though only 5 strings are used. What's the deal? Because Michael's Dyer was an original 6-bass with the holes of the low string plugged (see Guitar World poster and write-up in Harp Guitar Player of the Month: Michael Hedges). Like Michael, you will leave the lowest string off.
Note: It is not known what gauges Hedges actually used; these are optimum balance medium tension.  For lighter tension, choose the set below.
.076 .064 .059 .076 .056
G Bb C A D
$27.95
Michael Hedges Because It's There tuning for 5-bass Dyer: 
Harp Guitar Music John Pearse 5-string set *
(5 sub-basses, balanced light/medium tension)
*Intended for a Dyer or copy with only 5 sub-bass strings (with slightly longer scale): medium gauge;  Or use as a lighter set for a 6-bass instrument, described above.
.072 .062 .058 .072 .055
G Bb C A D
$27.95
Alternating between Michael Hedges and Stephen Bennett/Andy McKee tuning:
Harp Guitar Music John Pearse set *
*See my blog Stringing for Hedges
.072 .064 .059 .060 .055 .042
G A/Bb C/A C/A D High G/
Unused
$24.95
Alternating between Michael Hedges and Standard tuning:
Harp Guitar Music John Pearse set *
*See my blog Stringing for Hedges
.080 .076 .064 .060 .064 .056
F/
Unused 		G A/Bb B/C C/A D
$33.95

Gibson Style U Harp Guitar
(standard 10-bass model, either floating bridge or attached bridge)

Harp Guitar Music D'Addario Gibson set

Finally - a balanced phosphor bronze Gibson set that won't destroy your instrument!  Gauged slightly lighter than the Dyer sets, at roughly 25 pounds per string for a total sub-bass pull of 250-260 pounds.

10 sub-basses, tuned (descending, first sub-bass is equivalent to the 4th fret on the guitar's 6th string; and remember, no E string)

.056 .053 .052 .049 .047 .045 .039 .039 .036 .034
A# B C C# D D# F F# G G#
$22.95

Phosphor Bronze Sub-bass Singles
Gauge D'Addario

Popular fine quality strings at low prices.

 John Pearse
JP strings offer more gauges and are considered superior in quality by many professionals.

DR Closeout!
We are discontinuing these strings - all are 50% while they last!
Email your requests
Gauges .034-.056 are coated strings, red available on .038, .045 and .054 only.
Discount bulk packs of 5 per gauge available by pre-order Discount bulk of 6 per gauge available by pre-order
.034"

$2.25

n/a

 

Clear: $3.30

$1.65 (1 left)

036"

$2.25

n/a

 

 

 
.039"

$2.25

n/a

 

 

 
042"

$2.25

$2.45

Red: $3.30

$1.65 (1 left)

.042" long

n/a

 

$2.70
(44-48")

 

 
.045"

$2.25

n/a

 

Clear: $3.30

$1.65 (1 left)

Red: $3.30

$1.65 (1 left)

.047"

$2.25

n/a

 

  

 
.048"

n/a

 

n/a

 

Clear: $3.30

$1.65 (1 left)

49"

$2.45

n/a

 

  

 
.050"

n/a

 

$2.75

Clear: $3.30

$1.65 (1 left)

.052"

$2.45

n/a

 

  

 
.053"

$2.45

$2.75

 

 
.054"

$2.45

$2.75

Red: $3.30

$1.65 (1 left)

.054"
long

n/a

 

$3.05
(44-48")

Available by special order
 

 

.055"

n/a

 

$2.75

 

 

.056"

$2.45

$2.75

Clear: $3.30

$1.65 (1 left)

.058"

n/a

 

$2.75

 

 

.059"

$2.45

$2.75

 

 

.060"

$2.45

$3.45

 

 

.060"
long

n/a

 

$3.80
(44-48")

Available by special order

 

 

.062"

$2.75

$3.45

 

 

.062"
long

n/a

 

$3.80
(44-48")

Available by special order

 

 

.064"

$2.75

$3.95

 

 

.065" 

n/a

 

$7.95 (dbl-wound)

 

 

.066"

$2.75

$7.95 (dbl-wound)

 

 

.066"
long

n/a

 

$8.75
(44-48")

 

 

.068"

n/a

 

$7.95 (dbl-wound)

 

 
.070" $4.75

$9.95 (dbl-wound)

   
.070"
long		 n/a   $10.95
(44-48")
   
.072" n/a   $9.95 (dbl-wound)
   
.076" n/a   $9.95 (dbl-wound)
   
.080" n/a   $9.95 (dbl-wound)
   

New! Acoustic bass strings of extra long length and large ball (feed in from underneath bridge; drill out tuner - do not try to unwrap outer layers).  Single D'Addario bass strings no longer offered by manufacturer - we split sets for you!
.045" $2.95
n/a   n/a  
.065" $5.95 (dbl-wound)
n/a   n/a  
.080" 8.95 (dbl-wound)
n/a   n/a  
.100" $11.95
(triple-wound)
n/a   n/a  
.105" n/a   n/a   $11.45 (triple-wound, uncoated with round core)
.130" $11.95
(triple-wound)
n/a   n/a  

Professional players and luthiers (i.e. those who derive all their income from full-time musical activities): feel free to contact us for discount options.  We can also supply your standard neck strings in the brands we carry.

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