As to Scale Length: The GAL plans use a 350mm scale for the melody strings. The drones are about 400mm and the trumpet about 415mm.
The main effects of scale length on an instrument is string tension for a particular note and the placement of the tangents (the "spacing"). The effect of the tension of the strings changes the pressure and torque on the bridge and deflection of the top which can affect volume and harmonics. Also, a looser string will vibrate in a much larger circle meaning the throw of the keys in the middle notes needs to be longer. For comparison, a 4/4 violin is around 330mm, and a Viola is usually 356 - 380mm. If I were going to build a gurdy to specifically use metal wound strings I'd probably go with a slightly longer scale (355mm). But for a general instrument 345mm seems just fine. There is available somewhere on the Web (I've lost the link) a spreadsheet that deals with string tension for gurdies separated out by brands. It was produced by HGI (Hurdy Gurdy Info) and is called "Gurdy String Calculator and Setup". It states the standard is 345mm plus or minus a few mm's. -S On Thu, Nov 3, 2011 at 12:07 AM, Norm Sohl <[email protected]> wrote: > Seems like a reasonable way to start. The string length for the Lasner in > the Germanisches Nationalmuseum is 345 (from the plan I mentioned earlier), > as is my Hubbart HG, so that seems like a good starting place. > ** ** > > Kazimierz Verkmastare > > [...] > > So if there are some interested in pursuing this flight of fancy, I > suggest that we first decide on a scale length. In my early research, > while I was looking to design my sinphone, I was trying to make things easy > on myself by settling on a good 'normal' string length so that I could > obtain strings relatively easily. After getting a dozen answers, the most > common I received was 345 mm.**** > > [...] > > > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "hurdygurdy" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/hurdygurdy The rules of posting, courtesy, and other list information may be found at http://hurdygurdy.com/mailinglist/index.htm. To reduce spam, posts from new subscribers are held pending approval by the webmaster.
