Do harpists keep a spare set of strings?
Yes I keep and travel to gigs with a full set of spare strings for emergency string replacement. Harp students may want to keep a skeleton set of spare strings, as a full set can be costly. Also keep in mind that many of the higher octave strings come in double lengths. After you replace a string in the higher octaves, you may have enough left-over string to replace that string again; thus you can add to your spare set of strings by saving these double lengths. Also keep in mind that in the age of internet ordering and fast shipping it is easy to order, purchase, and replace strings within days. If you have time to wait a day or two, it is better to replace a broken string with a new string from the manufacturer because it will sound better than one that has been sitting in your string bag for who knows how long.
