On 10 February 2011 10:46, Martin Shepherd <[email protected]> wrote:
> This is a great mystery.  I can see no possible interpretation of Capirola's 
> remarks other than the one you suggest - BUT I have tried it, and it doesn't 
> work!  You can make some notes buzz some of the time, but I cannot see how 
> you could possibly set it up so that all notes buzzed, and to roughly the 
> same extent.  If you really want a buzzing effect, the obvious way to do it 
> is to thread something between the strings just in front of the bridge.
>

Slightly off topic.
Japanese biwa (lute) and shamisen (banjo) are set up in such a manner
that there is a consistent buzz. It's called sawari and a desired part
of the sound.
On biwa, it's done with low string tension, high frets and a huge pick.
On shamisen, it's done by having no nut for the lowest string. This
string will often have an octave or fifth above it in one of the other
strings, so will buzz along if tuned pure. Modern shamisen will have a
a screw thought the neck, adjustable, the tip of which is just
touching the lowest string. This way you can adjust the amount of
buzzing. Huge pick and no frets also help buzzing. Pick banging on the
skin top adds more braying.

Here's my shami in action:

http://www.youtube.com/luitluit#p/a/A5560ED74E86C57B/0/0FH1rEJKJB8

David

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David van Ooijen
[email protected]
www.davidvanooijen.nl
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