Andreas and Anthony--
Thanks for the reference to the Aquilacorde site. I see he has lots
of useful bits of information there. Now I have something else to fiddle
with besides meantone frets and tastini!
Regards,
Leonard Williams
/[ ]
/ \
| * |
\_=_/
On 6/19/08 4:43 AM, "Anthony Hind" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Sorry I clicked too fast before I had copied the message:
>
> There is useful information at
>
> http://www.aquilacorde.com/faqi.htm
>
> However, I am not sure how to interpret the following :
>
> "Example: can I tune in A 440 a lute with a string length of 62cm?
>
> .62 mt (62cm) x 440 (Hz) = 272.8 Hz.mt
>
> The answer is: no, I can't.
>
> What should the appropriate string length be?
>
> A safe index should not exceed the 240 value.
>
> So: 240/440 Hz = .545 mt."
>
> I assume this must be speaking of an A lute, and that for a G lute at
> 440 Hz
> g-1 is at 392Hz, the diameter of 0.42 is not relevant, the tension
> seems to be 4K (Gamut calculator).
>
> I suppose for this string the breaking strain is .60 (mt ) x 392Hz =
> 261,072 Hz
> That would appear to be at the limit.
>
> Yet my top strings have been lasting 2 months (Nick Baldock).
>
> Have I got something wrong, here?
> Anthony
>
> Full text below:
>
>
> 14) What is a string's Breaking Index?
> The Breaking Index is the higher frequency a gut string of any
> diameter can reach at a string length of 1mt.
> For both gut and Nylgut a mean value of 260 Hz.mt is a good reference
> parameter.
> In other words, a 1 meter long string - gut or Nylgut - will
> statistically always break at 260 Hz, i.e. about 'C'.
> Hence we deduce that the product of the pitch of the treble and by
> the string length (more properly called 'Working Index') must always
> be below this value, under pain of immediately breaking the string at
> values over 260 or a very short playing life at values between 240
> and 260. No problems below 240.
>
> What is its practical use?
> Example: can I tune in A 440 a lute with a string length of 62cm?
>
> .62 mt (62cm) x 440 (Hz) = 272.8 Hz.mt
>
> The answer is: no, I can't.
>
> What should the appropriate string length be?
>
> A safe index should not exceed the 240 value.
>
> So: 240/440 Hz = .545 mt.
>
> In practice the appropriate string lengt (at A-440) should not exceed
> 54 cm.
>
> Rule of thumb (assuming the system bridge-string-nut is free from any
> so called 'cutting effect'):
>
> - Working index within 240: green light.
> - Working index between 250 and 260: amber light (the treble could
> break in a few hours/days, especially by high humidity).
> - Working index over 260: red light (the treble will break
> immediately or within minutes).
> Le 19 juin 08 =E0 10:06, Andreas Schlegel a ecrit :
>
>> The breaking point of gut is around 250 Hz/m (some string makers
>> talk from 240Hz/m - and Mimmo give the breaking point for his very
>> strong type at around 260 Hz/m).
>> So a lute with 50 cm has the breaking point at 500 Hz. If you want
>> to play - instead of changing strings - you have to tune the
>> string around one semitone lower.
>>
>> Regards,
>>
>> Andreas
>>
>> Am 18.06.2008 um 22:48 schrieb Leonard Williams:
>>
>>> On occasion the topic of "authentic" pitch arises: to what
>>> G, e.g.,
>>> was a lute tuned? Thre's that old dictum of tuning the treble to
>>> just
>>> before it breaks. So--my question is: What is the breaking pitch
>>> (frequency) of gut?
>>>
>>> Regards,
>>> Leonard Williams
>>>
>>> /[ ]
>>> / \
>>> | * |
>>> \_=_/
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> To get on or off this list see list information at
>>> http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
>>
>>
>
>
> --
