Hello,
as a thumb rule for the pressure/rosin problem my advice is:
1. The maximum deflection (is this the right word?) of the string
from the wheel to the bridge should about one string diameter.
2. When the wheel is turned very slowly, it should neither slip
through the wheel nor make a scratching noise.
3. If the wheel slips, there is too less rosin and/or pressure. If
there is a scratching noise there is too much rosin and/or pressure.
To check the balance between rosin and pressure, see if all strings
behave the same. if some are slipping and some are scratching the
pressure is not balanced. If all slip or scratch its the amount of
rosin that needs to be changed.
Find a personal balance between rosin and pressure. I prefere more
rosin and lesser pressure.
This all is limited to instruments with a true wheel with a clear
shimmering surface. Make sure to remove all rosin from the edges of
the rim.
Simon
Am 11.03.2007 um 00:21 schrieb Arle Lommel:
I will of course defer to Alden's advice, but I would ask if you
have enough rosin? Most new players actually don't use enough rosin
because they're scared of using too much and/or don't know how to
apply it. You'll find players who disagree with me on what I'll say
next, but if you know how to apply your rosin right it's almost
impossible to put too much on. The problems with "too much" rosin
are usually the result of the rosin being uneven and building up
ridges that break down and leave uneven residue on the surface. If
you're using a block of rosin, make sure that you have a flat
surface on the rosin. If it's broken, rough, or uneven, don't use
it. If you do have a flat surface on it, gently hold it to the
wheel while you turn the wheel and move it back and forth across
the turning face of the wheel. This motion will keep you from
building up rosin in a band on the wheel. (Many players hold the
puck to the wheel without moving the puck at all and *that* will
lead to the "too much rosin" syndrome.) If you do this right the
wheel will build up a beautifully even and smooth coating of rosin
over time.
If you still find the balance is out after rosining then Alden's
advice on geometry is exactly right, especially as your instrument
is home brew. I just would hate to have you trying to fix the
geometry of your instrument if the fix were as simple as adding
more rosin. I find on my instruments that I notice too little rosin
when the chanter starts dropping out in relation to the drones,
more or less what you describe. Others may have different
experience, and building your own while learning to maintain it is
a bit like building your own computer and programming its operating
system in assembly code at the same time...
-Arle
On Mar 10, 2007, at 5:02 PM, Seth Hamon wrote:
Ok I raised it a hair and the scratyness is gone but
its pretty quiet and the drone is kinda drowning it
out... Seth
--
http://simonwascher.info
