Hello Anthony,
My first answer is: yes, for the string formula the diameter is,
teorethically, ininfluent. So the breacking index is always the same.
However, in practise there are some difference due to the surface
treatments ables to do a string polished etc etc.
My 'more or less' mean a certain range of gauges like those I wrote: I
do not know if other stringmakers employ the special technical way
useful to do thiner lute trbles for thicker gauges.
However, the breacking idex is the same for all these gauges. I mean
that if you increase the diameter also the tension go up of the same
ammount. So diameter/tension for unit is always a costant.
Tne only pratical difference, using a thicker gauge, is that the
resistance to the superficial abrasion caused by sweet fingers is
better. I mean: less hairs on the string.
Mimmo
Anthony Hind ha scritto:
Dear Mimmo and All,
If I have understood you correctly, there is a sort of
contradiction : as gut becomes thicker, it must be treated to make
it more flexible (higher twist and possibly softening chemicals), or
else it becomes inharmonic. The more flexible it is, for a given
diameter, however, the less tension it can stand (the Breaking Index
drops). Thus it is not the thickness itself, but the way thick gut
is treated that makes it break quicker than thin gut?
You say the Index of a modern gut string is 260 Hz/m, but this is
only true true for the range of lute 1st string gauges.
"I mean 38 till 46 mm (more or less), where strings are made with a
very low twist and gut is made harder by chemicals."
Does this mean that it is possible to substitute say a 44 treble
anywhere where it is safe to use a 42 treble, keeping exactly the
same breaking point in Hz; or does your "more or less" imply that
even for "38 till 46 mm" there will be a slight difference in twist
or hardening, which could mean the 44 would be less strong than the
42?
Of course I realize that such a substitution would increase the
playing tension, which may or may not be an advantage.
Regards
Anthony
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