Thanks for posting these experiences and observations, Anthony. As with most issues, the factors to consider are more complex than might first appear. I personally have never had serious problems with strings breaking, but am more bothered by wound strings wearing at the frets and buzzing. Partly for that reason, I'm now using carbon for the fifth course rather than wound strings.
Ned On Oct 5, 2010, at 9:24 AM, Anthony Hind wrote: > Dear Ed and All > For the reason you state below : > % >> The density of carbon is so much >> more than gut, therefore a smaller size is appropriate, around a 0.38 >> or so. Because of the need for a smaller diameter, the sound is >> certainly more sharp sounding. >> >> ed > % > two lutenists on the French list, who have adopted synthetic strings > for their stability, (rather than just for their low cost), and who are > ready to experiment to achieve the sound they are looking for, have > adopted very low density Titanium Nylon fishing lines for their top > strings, which they claim give a thicker, and therefore, sweeter warmer > sounding top string for the same tension, compared to high density KF > carbon (which they use for their Meanes) or even compared to slightly > higher density nylon. > % > They liked the sound of the old nylgut (with its density close to gut), > but claimed that it tended to break too easilly (which presumably has > been resolved with the latest version).. > % > In fact, they were looking for a sound similar to that which is > achieved with titanium nylon guitar strings, but these do not exist in > diameters suitable for the lute. > It would seem that such a string can be found in a suitable diameter > (0,35 to 0,50) in fishing line, under the name, Nylon Powerline > Titanium; but there is also Asari Falcon titanium G2, which might be > suitable. > (for those interested these are special fishing lines for surf casting) > % > FranAS:ois Pizette gave the following comparative table of densities > (which I have not checked out): > % > titanium nylon :1.04 > nylon: 1.12 > perlon: 1.22 > nylgut: 1.3 > gut: 1.36 > KF pvf: 1.81 > % > FranAS:ois actually sent me a trial string for my Renaissance lute, but > I never got round to trying it out, myself. I had just begun > experimenting a Kathedral gut top string at the time, so I passed it on > to a friend who was using a nylon top string, and I believe he found > the Titanium Nylon quite good, but a little "too sweet". Nevertheless, > he kept it on for a time, so it may not have been at all bad to his > taste. > % > As you say, string density determines the diameter, and presumably, all > things being equal, 'thinner than nylon' could lead to a sharper tone, > while thicker could lead to a sweeter one. However, FranAS:ois Pizette > claimed he heard the carbon top string as "colder", and the titanium > nylon as "warmer". > Nevertheless, relative top string thickness also plays a role in terms > of feel and playability. It is not easy to "dig into" a thin string, > although an over thick string could possibly become too damped. > % > A comparison between Alliance Savrez carbon and Addario Titanium-nylon > can be heard here on a Ukelele in this You/Tube video (if you have the > patience, as there are two other strings tested): > [1]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGK8pXqr9yY > % > One player's comments on this test seem interesting. He says it is more > the feel of the Titanium Nylon he prefers than the sound difference > with the Savarez: > "You were the one that goti>>? me into Savarez strings, though I still > prefer my D'Addrios only because they are thicker and give me a little > more "feel" under my fingers." (a Ukele player) > % > Is this not why some Baroque lutenist gut users prefer a lower diapason > (say 392 over 415, with the same tension). This also gives a thicker > top string, with more material to "dig into"? > % > I think this question may be just as interesting for gut as for > synthetics users. > While personally, I have been experimenting with the sound and feel of > gut in relation to hypotheses about historic strings, I am happy to > report on these synthetic string user's experiments, attempting to > achieve a better sound and playability with their choice of strings. > Best regards > Anthony > ---- Message d'origine ---- >> De : "Edward Martin" <[email protected]> >> A : "Edward Mast" <[email protected]>; >> "Roman Turovsky" <[email protected]> >> Objet : [LUTE] Re: Carbon strings? >> Date : 04/10/2010 15:10:06 CEST >> Copie A : "Paul Kieffer" <[email protected]>; >> "EUGENE BRAIG IV" <[email protected]>; >> [email protected] >> >> No, it would have too much tension. The density of carbon is so much >> more than gut, therefore a smaller size is appropriate, around a 0.38 >> or so. Because of the need for a smaller diameter, the sound is >> certainly more sharp sounding. >> >> ed >> >> >> >> >> >> At 07:50 AM 10/4/2010, Edward Mast wrote: >>> The .40-.41 mm diameter line sounds like it would be suitable for >>> the top course, yes? >> >> >> >> Edward Martin >> 2817 East 2nd Street >> Duluth, Minnesota 55812 >> e-mail: [email protected] >> voice: (218) 728-1202 >> [2]http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1660298871&ref=name >> [3]http://www.myspace.com/edslute >> >> >> >> >> To get on or off this list see list information at >> [4]http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html >> > > -- > > References > > 1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGK8pXqr9yY > 2. http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1660298871&ref=name > 3. http://www.myspace.com/edslute > 4. http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/%7Ewbc/lute-admin/index.html >
