Hi Bart,

Thank you for this clear explanation. Now that you've outlined the problem (and
solution), the worst note is the one with the most problematic tangent - what a
surprise!

I'll start by making one oversize for the really difficult key and see what
happens. I suspect that I should take the keys out and re-drill the tangent
holes and make the new tangents with larger pegs (they are 3mm at present -
maybe up to 4.5mm dia.). This no doubt will help make them more stable too.

Thanks again.
Nick


--- In nyckelharpa@yahoogroups.com, Bart Brashers <bart.brashers@...> wrote:
>
> Hi Nick,
>
> On Thu, May 28, 2009 at 12:47 PM, nick_nourse <nick_nourse@...> wrote:
>
> > I made my nyckelharpa from the Soren Ahker book about 4 years ago, but I
> > still have a problem with intonation on the second (bass G - counting 1-4
> > from lowest to highest) string.
> >
> > The string is good when playing an open G, and is nearly OK when playing G#
> > and A, but both notes are flat - turning the tangents doesn't have much
> > effect at all. When I play A# the note is flat and 'fuzzy', like a cello
> > wolf note. Playing B the note does not sound properly at all - it is like
> > scraping the string with a metal file. Playing C is like the A# but flat,
> > but C# is almost OK but flat. The top key D is in tune and plays well. The
> > tangents pitch towards the bridge as they do on the other two sets of keys,
> > but the fifth is in tune with little off-set on the tangent on the 2nd
> > string.
> >
> > I can improve the sound by holding in the A, A#, and B keys all together to
> > get a better sound, but this is not always possible when playing tunes. I
> > can get a clean note if I press the string onto the tangent with my thumb
> > nail, and it plays close to in tune.
> >
> > I have always used a set of Prim nyckelharpa strings, and I have just tried
> > changing the difficult string for a Thomastik cello G, but it still has the
> > same problem. The tangents are all about 1.5 - 2.00mm from the string when
> > at rest so all keys travel the same distance into the string. I have also
> > notched the top saddle by 4.5mm to increase the string length, to no effect,
> > so that has been filled again.
> >
> > Can anyone suggest any adjustments I need to make? Should I move the
> > soundpost - it is set so that its closest point is one bridge-width behind
> > the back face of the bridge? Should it move towards the bridge or away?
> >
> > I see from the ANA website that an implication that a bridge might be set
> > at an angle - is this OK? - my bridge is set 'square' to the strings at
> > exactly 400mm.
>
>
> You have a known problem, but it's not what you think. Angling the bridge
> or lengthening the string or moving the soundpost is not going to help. The
> problem is that your tangents on the G3 string are not stiff enough. I know
> this because you say that if you hold the string against the tangent it
> sounds OK.
>
> When the G3 string vibrates, it "pushes" on the tangent. The tangent must
> be strong enough to provide stable resistance, or it will sound "fuzzy".
> When the string is swinging one way, it pushes the tangent over a bit, and
> when it swings the other way it lets the tangent return a bit. This makes
> the effective length of the string be variable, depending on which way the
> string is swinging at that moment. This prevents the string from having a
> clear, dominant wavelength, so you get "wolf tones" and no clear tone.
>
> The fix is to replace your tangents. Since you built your harpa, I'm sure
> you can make some new tangents. They should be much wider at the base
> (where they touch the keys) than at the top -- taper them from the key to
> the point where the resonance strings are. This will make them more stiff,
> less likely to "give" when pressed on by the vibrating string. Make sure
> the hole in the key is strong enough, and straight enough to keep the
> tangent upright. If they sides of the hole are not straight, the tangent
> might wiggle, making it not stiff.
>
> Bart
> ---
> Bart Brashers
> 3039 NW 62nd St
> Seattle WA 98107
> 206-789-1120 Home
> 425-412-1812 Work
> 206-550-2606 Mobile
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>