Conical strings?

Whether or not you understand the difference between conical and
cylindrical bore for a pipe, that's what i was thinking about when i
considered the idea of a conical string. That is, on a simple fretted
or fretless plucked string instrument the strings would be thicker on
one end and thinner on another, most likely the bridge end.

I guess it would allow for a very wide pitch range, and even out the
fret positions somewhat, as the difference in length where the string
is thicker would "count more" for the total mass of the vibrating
string, but i have no idea how it could affect timbre.

Anyone know if it has actually been tried? I figure the string itself
would start its life as a very thick wound string, to gradually be
filed down, through very delicate and precise sanding, into a smooth
taper...

/Ö

Mats,

Or you could have a conical core, of a wire drawn out at an
increasing rate, or even of moulded nylon, then for lower pitches,
wind it with varying thicknesses of fine (cylindrical-section) wire.

My guess is that the timbre would, with a moderate change in
thickness over the whole string length, be pleasantly inharmonic
- rather richer than a string of constant cross-section.

I think you could get a feel for the likely effect quite readily by
the experiment of taking a standard set of guitar strings, and
partially unwinding them. To a first approximation, at least, a
string of two thicknesses models a conical one. Or you could take
fine wire and wind it ON to a standard wire-wound string, to
increase its thickness differentially ...

Regards,
Yahya

-----Original Message-----
From: Mats �ljare <oljare@...>
Subject: Conical strings?

Whether or not you understand the difference between conical and
cylindrical bore for a pipe, that's what i was thinking about when i
considered the idea of a conical string. That is, on a simple fretted
or fretless plucked string instrument the strings would be thicker on
one end and thinner on another, most likely the bridge end.

I guess it would allow for a very wide pitch range, and even out the
fret positions somewhat, as the difference in length where the string
is thicker would "count more" for the total mass of the vibrating
string, but i have no idea how it could affect timbre.

Anyone know if it has actually been tried? I figure the string itself
would start its life as a very thick wound string, to gradually be
filed down, through very delicate and precise sanding, into a smooth
taper...

/�

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