On 12/24/06, rlindau <rlindx@...> wrote:
> Has anyone experience using plain strings for the lower resonance strings?

I've never heard of anyone using them. As John pointed out, it's
about getting the right tension for the note. I often feel that the
lower notes that use the plain strings (typical diameters) sound a
little too "buwow". That is, the tension is too loose and they don't
sing right.

> I have problems with the resonance strings that run around my lower
> C-string peg - the winding on one has frayed due to contact with the
> C-string (which itself is wrapped around the peg, as you'd expect).
>
> It would seem that plain strings would be immune to this fraying problem.

You could re-define the problem, by moving the strings. Most players
tune the understrings chromatically, with the lowest at the bass side
and the highest on the treble side of the bridge. But there's other
schemes, including one that I've heard Eric Sahlström used. I wrote
about way back when, see
http://www.nyckelharpa.org/resources/nh_string_placement.html.

You could re-assign that position that rubs on your low-C playing
string to be a plain string.

> A lesson is to loosen the resonance strings before turning the
> C-string peg (not that I do so often - usually the fine tuner suffices).
>
> It doesn't seem possible to position the C-string winding so that the
> resonance strings don't contact it.

Perhaps you could send us a snapshot (got a digital camera?) of the
problem. A picture is worth a kiloword, right?

Bart
--
Bart Brashers
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