> I think stringing should be considered "holistically".
> On my 7C lute, I intitially had as basses, a D7 Gimped, a G6 Pistoy,
> and as Meanes C5 unisson "Lyons", and F4 High twist.
> This stringing did work, all the strings were good in their own right,
but didn't quite come together tonally.
> I achieved best success with the new generation Venice loaded strings
> when I used Venice octaves and Venice Meanes. All these strings are
> twines and so have a sympathetic upper harmonic pattern.
> They are more supple than a tress, like a Pistoy, which would show a
> greater difference in upper harmonic pattern
We're not only on the same page we are almost completing each other's
thoughts, and have had nearly identical experiences. I have also
strung instruments with excellent, but disparate string types that
resulted in the whole being less than the sum of its parts.
>In particular, I was not happy about the tonal difference between the
> Gimped Pistoy, which is bright, and the simple Pistoy tress which was
relatively dull.... ... A good first generation loaded string might have a
harmonic pattern more in sympathy with your Pistoy.
That is exactly what happened yesterday. While I thought initially
that my 7-F with the embedded wire gimp was transitioning nicely from
the old loaded D-8 to the PIstoy 6, the opposite was happening- it
was the old loaded string almost transitioning the bright gimp to the
Pistoy 6. When I realized this, I was fortunate enough to find
another old Loaded gut, 1.33 mm physical diameter for the 7-F. Now
only two string types instead of three to coordinate with each other,
no more random disparities. I am sure now that this lute is right
where I want it, string wise. (But who knows- call me back in a
month, or a year)
> In that case, it seems quite possible that a first generation,
>stiffer loaded string might show a closer harmonic pattern and blend
>better with the Pistoy.
Yes, it does indeed.
> Playing technique also evolves in relation to a particular string type
> and tension, so a change from an old generation loaded to a new one
> might not bring an intrinsic improvement, without adapting the
> stringing, the playing, and possibly also tweaking the nut or the
> bridge.
That's why I will be ordering the new strings only for the Baroque
lute. As to playing the 8 course lute, I have switched the 7 & 8
positions for ease of fingering the low D, making the transition to
the Pistoy 6 even more critical. It also made the not-quite blending
7F sound worse with the gimp, so finding another useable old loaded
gut fundamental was very good luck. (As we all know, the reversed 7 &
8 changes one's lute from the less historically popular transitional
8 course to a "Double 7", best of both types.)
> Later I replaced G6 also with a Venice, which was a little brighter
> than the Pistoy, but I still felt it didn't quite go with the gimped
> string.
Looks like these gimps are getting marginalised; but you had to
establish proper homogeneity in any case.
> There was however, a difficulty in keeping up the quality.
> Mimmo had not yet rediscovered some new antique ingredients, which
> allowed a smoother spread of the loading. So many more of the first
> generation strings were fairly false; so you are definitely lucky if
> you have one that is very true.
I consider myself lucky to still have two that work. Used to be three
or four- and you have no idea how many false ones had to be thrown
out, and still there are about eight or so ragged survivors hiding in
my "gutpile" (old peanut brittle box, top shelf of the coat closet)
whose value I'm not sure of.
> "The proof of the pudding ...", as they say, so what is important is
> that you have achieved a better balance.
> Congratulations!
> Anthony
This better balance applies to any string type; for my all-synthetic
archlute to work I used nylon 1 & 2, carbon 3, 4, and 5, KFG 6 - 12,
and (compromise!) gimp 13 and 14. In its way, this is also a
well-blended sounding instrument. The KFG's are vastly better
sounding than the copper overspuns. Possibly nylgut might work, but I
have come to dislike them, and cannot abide the color. Maybe if the
new ones ever hit the market I will want to try them. Do you have any
news on them?
Congrats to you too.
Dan
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