nasers
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Tuning problem with bass strings
Does anyone know what causes bass strings to "jump" during tuning? By "jump", I don't mean any slipping on the peg but it seems to be on the nut or
something, so the effect is something like this: you keep tightening the peg slowly but the string tension doesn't change but then it suddenly jumps
to a higher tension than desired. You then reverse the process to lower the tension but nothing happes for a while until the string jums to a tension
lower than desired. Sometimes, I can spend minutes turning the peg back and forth but the string just doesn't seem to want to stay where you want it
to. Any ideas?
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amtaha
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There could be high friction at the nut. Try making it smoother.
A better solution would be to replace the wooden nut with a bone one, but whoever (you, luthier) makes the nut needs to be careful about the
measurements. (You can search the forum)
More minor stuff could do with the strings being a bit old (or rusty) and the winding is getting loose around the nut.
How the strings are wound in the pegbox (overlap, etc.) may sometimes mess things up. My understanding is that a string should not impede other
strings.
Good luck.
Hamid
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Dr. Oud
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jumping is usually caused by the string passing over a sharp edge in the groove cut in the top nut. The grooves need to be smooth, slightly larger
than each string with both ends rounded to allow the string to slide without catching.
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nasers
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Thanks guys for these great tips. They make so much sense.
Naser
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jdowning
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No doubt you are using wire wound basses (not smooth gut) which can make the problem more critical because of the ridges in the surface of the string.
A publication that deals with maintenance of lutes and other early stringed instruments - but is also just as relevant to the oud - can be downloaded
from Northern Renaissance Instruments at :
http://www.nrinstruments.demon.co.uk/InstMain.html It includes information on how to set up the nut.
Good luck - it can take a bit of time and care to achieve perfection!
John
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Lintfree
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I hate it when that happens!! With guitar nuts you use graphite in the slot but with an oud you can get gray fingerprints all over the unfinished top
and it looks awful. Even on bone nuts the problem you mentioned can happen. One luthier I know uses powdered teflon and works it into the bone with
the shaft of a large sewing needle. The oud I have that has had this done tunes so smoothly that it feels like geared tuners; no chirping and no
unexpected pitch changes. You can get powdered teflon at an auto supply store. I think you can also find white
graphite...............................maybe not.
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nasers
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Thanks again everyone. Sounds like I'm not the only one with this problem. I tried very carefully to widen the grooves with a nail file but it
didn't help much (or maybe I am afraid to work it too hard!). John is right that it can take some time to achieve good results. In any case, not
being experienced in oud repairs, I'd rather try the less intrusive methods suggested here like the powdered teflon first.
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paulO
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Hi Free,
I'm going to try the powerderd teflon idea next time I change strings...thanks.
paulO
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