* PLEASE READ THE FINE PRINT BELOW BEFORE ORDERING

Harp Guitar Music sub-bass sets are specifically put together by harp guitarist/engineer Gregg Miner for balanced, even tension across all open bass strings to provide optimum tone and feel while retaining a comfortable safety margin for both modern and vintage instruments in either "extra light," "light" or "medium" tensions (see String Scale & Gauge Guide for more).  These handy, pre-gauged sets are offered only through Harp Guitar Music. 

CAUTION: Harp Guitar Music sets are based solely on the measurements of John Doan's original 20-string Sullivan-Elliott harp guitar with sub-bass scale lengths within 5% of those listed in my String Scale & Gauge Guide.  If your instrument is much more than 5% different in scale for any sub-bass string, or if you use many different tunings, I might suggest you explore custom gauging.  John's own signature set consists of his own gauge choices, and is not a Harp Guitar Music set.

Harp Guitar Music is not responsible for any instrument damage incurred by stringing.

 John Doan Signature Series Sub-bass Sets

These are the exact same strings that John has been using for years on his custom Sullivan-Elliott 20-string concert harp guitar.  They were developed from research and consultation between Jeff Elliott and La Bella string consultant/artist endorsee Dennis Cinelli.  Material is standard silver-plated copper wire wrap over La Bella's 2001-type very balanced formula nylon core.  For similar instruments with extra basses, different string lengths or different tunings, additional single gauges are available below.  These strings are custom made for Harp Guitar Music by La Bella, in 40" lengths, in both tie-on and ball-end versions!

Update: I have long known that this set has very uneven tension across the six sub-basses.  The highest string (D) is extremely heavy (over 22 lb tension) while the lowest string (F) is extremely light (13 lbs).  I suspect that this was an effort to better match the steel strings that John uses on the neck (the sub adjacent to the neck's low E being the heaviest, and then reducing tension significantly as one goes down the scale).  Obviously, this has worked for John for his entire career, and also many others who string similar instruments with nylon basses.  Note that these instruments are strung by some players with steel basses, and the instruments were actually designed to handle either type, within reason (per Jeffrey Elliott).

Standard 6-bass tuning

6 sub-basses, tuned FGABCD low to high

Light tension (for use with nylon strings on the guitar neck)
(Harp Guitar Music set)

Substitute .075 for low E in place of F

Standard 6-bass tuning

6 sub-basses, tuned FGABCD low to high

Medium tension (for use with nylon strings on the guitar neck)
(Harp Guitar Music set)

Substitute .080 for low E in place of F

Standard 6-bass tuning

6 sub-basses, tuned FGABCD low to high

Heavy tension (for use with steel strings on the guitar neck)
(Harp Guitar Music set)

Stephen Bennett Tuning nylon-core sets available by custom calculation.

Silver-plated, Nylon Core Sub-bass Singles
Both La Bella and D'Addarion strings come in 40" length

Gauge

Popular fine quality strings at low prices

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