Hello, Am 09.04.2008 um 11:01 schrieb Mike bloom:
I asked a while ago about using metal strings for HG, I don't know if my question was lost or maybe no one uses them, some where I heard, I can't remember where, that Spirocore [?]strings work for chanterelles, but I would like to try them on the bourdon too. Any information would be useful
in priciple, you can use all strings suitable for bowed instruments as long as they fit in pitch and lenght. They will show about the same qualities as with other bowed instruments. This is a common practice on hurdy-gurdy at least since about twenty years. The only limiter is your personal "gout".
The limits are that on the hurdy-gurdy each melody string gets played over a range two octaves, this is more than on other bowed instruments. Not all strings sound good at an resonating lenght of 10 cm or less. Also melody strings get played in octav and other paralells which makes that they need to behave similar to each other when shortened and bended.
Another limit is that the low drones of a hurdy-gurdy are short for their pitch. Many strings that are made for thouse low pitches are too stiff to sound well on the string lenght of a hurdy-gurdy. Again its possible to find strings made for about these lenghts and pitches. In 'modern' bowed instrument strings mainly strings for non- full-size instruments, for example 1/2, 1/4, 1/8 cello.
To my my personal observation metal (core) strings are usually stronger in sound than compareable other strings. For me this is a reason not to use them for drones. They would be too loud to my tase loud at the right pitch and too slack at the right volume.
But if you find a metal (core) string of the right lenght and pitch I see no reason why it should not work.
Simon --- have a look at: http://hurdygurdywiki.wiki-site.com http://drehleierwiki.wiki-site.com --- my site: http://simonwascher.info
