Alan-TX
Oud Junkie
Posts: 118
Registered: 2-18-2008
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String Diameter \ Length \ Tension questions
I looked for a post on this so if this is a rehash of an already answered question please point me in the right direction
I am curious on how string diameter and length afftect what string is acceptable for a given course.
I will use a cumbus for my example as I want to experiment on mine.
The top course is .034 according to the package. I cannot give the exact sting length as I am not at home but the instrument is supposed to measure 34
inches. This supposed to be tuned to a D per the documentation I can find but some people tune higher. If I wanted to tune this to a C I would need a
thicker string right?
But how much thicker and how much more pressure will that place on the instrument?
If there is a user friendly explanation of this to help with my testing I would appreciate it
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jdowning
Oud Junkie
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Location: Ontario, Canada
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As a start, you might find it helpful to download Eph Segerman's string calculator. This is a slide rule calculator and the explanatory notes give the
basic mathematical relationships between string mass, tension, diameter etc. that were used to layout the scales of the calculator.
The calculator works for plain strings made of a variety of materials. For metal wound bass strings the situation is more complicated as an
'equivalent diameter' of string needs first to be determined (this will be a smaller diameter than the measured outside diameter of the string).
To make the calculator the scales, after printing on paper, are simply cut out and pasted to card or other suitable material.
Free download at
http://www.nrinstruments.demon.co.uk/StrCalc.html
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jdowning
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Also do a search for "string calculator" on this forum. I posted some string tension tables by 'Pyramid' strings a while back that you might find
useful.
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Matthias
Oud Junkie
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Hello Alan,
if you visit my site ande there go to the download center, you will find a PDF file with a lot of various stringings I composed for different tunings
and string length. Hope that helps.
Matthias
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