...when you start thinking about running to the hardware store rather than the music store when you want to change a string.

Redwolf

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...agus déanfaidh mé do mholadh ar an gcruit a Dhia, a Dhia liom!

Or the tackle shop for nylon fishing line... Bob

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Oh body swayed to music, O brightening glance,
How can we know the dancer from the dance?... WB Yeats

OK, I'll bite: What do you use nylon fishing line for?

So far my forays to the hardware store have included buying dowels (for toggles), a vice grip, needle-nose pliers/wire cutters, and a foldable stool for resting the harp on when I'm traveling and don't want to drag along my padded one.

Redwolf

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...agus déanfaidh mé do mholadh ar an gcruit a Dhia, a Dhia liom!

Well, fluorocarbon fishing line is kind of popular for ukulele.. I haven't tried but it's supposed to be good (there may even be a preferable fishing line vendor). Not sure if that applies to harp strings too, but who knows

-Tor

Wire harps are strung with brass or bronze (or occasionally silver or gold) instrument wire. That's the reason for the trips to the hardware store:

Dowels, nails or washers for toggles (because you can't tie a knot in wire)
Vise grip to hold the coiled wire straight while tying the toggle
Nice folding stool to set the harp on while playing (wire harps are typically small)

Even with a nylon-strung harp, though, I'd be hesitant to use fishing line, unless I were certain I could get the same gauge recommended by the harpmaker. The wrong strings on a harp can wreak havoc.

Redwolf

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...agus déanfaidh mé do mholadh ar an gcruit a Dhia, a Dhia liom!

You use fishing line for the melody strings on an Afghan rubab (and probably a sarod, which is almost the same thing).

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http://www.campin.me.uk

You need steel or phosphor bronze for sarod strings.

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"Time is the wisest counselor of all." - Pericles

"I remain not entirely convinced of it." - Nano

Guessing it was a joke... been playing wire harp too long (= 'ouch', that sort of thing!)?

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And we in dreams behold the Hebrides.

Why I teach... and where
Master of nine?

The tangling our various national and individual sensibilities for subtlety makes for a challenging unravelment. I'm not sure, Peter, what you meant by "it" without more clarifying attribution. Were you referring to the comment Red was addressing, or to the quote of her above? As for the second half of your post, I get the intent of ribbing, but the "'ouch', that sort of thing!" part confuses me, unless you're trying to help things along. If that's the case, it was unnecessary; we're Yanks, not blockheads.

If it's that you're trying to get a handle on Redwolf's post, I'll dare to put my foot in and presume to translate for Redwolf as she is a fellow American, if I know my own: Red-as-harper posits a committed exponent's opinion in the form of a riddle in the guise of an honest question. The whole delivery from punning start to the answers-itself finish says "Fishing line is for fishing. Period." Anyway, that's what I would have meant by it.

So tell me, Red - was I reading between lines that aren't there?

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"Time is the wisest counselor of all." - Pericles

"I remain not entirely convinced of it." - Nano

Yes, Bob's response!


Playing wire harp too long -> knowledge that you can string said harp from hardware store (which it now turns out is not what Redwolf meant) -> jokey response (assumed 'wire hurts your fingers especially if played too long') about changing to nylon... so 'ouch' refers to assumed sore fingers and not my assumptions (which don't exist) of your perception of humo(u)r!

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And we in dreams behold the Hebrides.

Why I teach... and where
Master of nine?

Aha.

Well, at least I can put to rest your sympathies for Red's physical discomforts: IIRC, she plays wire harp with her nails, as is the more common practice. We've another member here, ceadach, a friend of mine who also plays wire harp and in the same way. Speaking of physical discomforts, I used to give him no end of grief for the dangers his considerable nails must present him when attempting personal hygiene.

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"Time is the wisest counselor of all." - Pericles

"I remain not entirely convinced of it." - Nano

'Assumed' as in I was assuming Bob was assuming that and not actually assuming myself that Redwolf had sore fingers when I know nothing about playing wire-strung harps!

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And we in dreams behold the Hebrides.

Why I teach... and where
Master of nine?

Oh dear. I'm so lost. Maybe I'm a blockhead after all. I'll just stick my fingers in my ears and wait for Red to tell me I'm off my rocker too.

_________________
"Time is the wisest counselor of all." - Pericles

"I remain not entirely convinced of it." - Nano

I'massumingBob'sassumingyou'reassumingI'massuming...

Och, never mind (maybe we're all blockheads)!

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And we in dreams behold the Hebrides.

Why I teach... and where
Master of nine?

"Separated by a common language", I think is how the saying goes.

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"Time is the wisest counselor of all." - Pericles

"I remain not entirely convinced of it." - Nano