A short time ago there were a couple of posts regarding problems
with chanterelles, particularly at the higher end of the keyboard. It
occurred to me while dealing with a similar problem with my lute chanterelle
that you might be dealing with false strings. On my lute it manifests as
out-of-tune frets up the fingerboard; the "bad" notes actually sound tinny
or jangly. It won't present on an open string vibrating as a whole unit;
but fretted notes start taking in (or leaving out) the bad spots (uneven
thickness or mass). I'll go out on a limb and say that this problem is
particularly found with thinner gut strings, where it is certainly more
noticeable, though it could happen in any material or gauge.
I'm not sure if all this applies to bowed strings, or only plucked!
I have had no need to test this on my hurdy-gurdy.
How to check for falseness? Ed Martin, a lutist in Duluth, told me
a good method, though (see above disclaimer) it might only work for plucked
strings. Slide a dark background under the string (colored paper or such).
Under a flourescent tube lamp (excellent strobe), sound the open string. A
good string will display a nice even ambitus over its length; a false one
will display all sorts of extra little ripples that may appear to run up and
down the string. Chuck it.
Regards,
Leonard Williams
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