Subtle Differences Caused By Clipping Wound Strings
Moderator: Shoshanah Marohn
- Bill Hankey
- Posts: 7666
- Joined: 13 Apr 2001 12:01 am
- Location: Pittsfield, MA, USA
Subtle Differences Caused By Clipping Wound Strings
Should a player consider the subtle differences caused by cutting wound strings during string changes?
- richard burton
- Posts: 3846
- Joined: 23 Jan 2001 1:01 am
- Location: Britain
- Bill Hankey
- Posts: 7666
- Joined: 13 Apr 2001 12:01 am
- Location: Pittsfield, MA, USA
Seriously Richard, what do you make of that? Word came through and was suggested to me by an old friend who was a friend of a late famous guitarist. After giving much thought to the claim, I am inclined to believe that subtle differences do exist. I've reasoned on my own that before wound strings are changed, there is a collection of who knows what amassed between the bronze or nickel windings. This would account for a lessening of the desired tones produced by unchanged strings.
-
- Posts: 66
- Joined: 23 Sep 2010 8:58 pm
- Location: New Mexico, USA
IMHO any impact of a string cut would be minimized by insuring the post has as many wraps as possible. Ideally the post being full without overlapping. The string is cut at that point after the fulcrum of the wraps. More damaging would be a string kink. In my 40 years of working on guitars (non-steels) that is what separates the inner and outer string cores.
- Doug Palmer
- Posts: 895
- Joined: 23 Jan 2009 4:16 pm
- Location: Greensboro, North Carolina, USA
installing strings
Put a bend in your wound strings before cutting and putting them on the post. It should keep the coil from slipping. A trick I learned from a piano tech, put a quarter turn in the string before tightening it up. It makes the string more lively.
Doug
Doug
Emmons D-10, ST-10,LD-10 III, NV-112,Fender Deluxe Reverb. Authorized wholesale dealer musicorp.com!
- Bill Hankey
- Posts: 7666
- Joined: 13 Apr 2001 12:01 am
- Location: Pittsfield, MA, USA
Doug,
There are those times when hearsay is right on the money, while at other times the chances of learning something new had slipped through the "cracks", resulting in a distorted original solution to a given problem. Mechanically, I've learned that most problems can be resolved through contemplation.
There are those times when hearsay is right on the money, while at other times the chances of learning something new had slipped through the "cracks", resulting in a distorted original solution to a given problem. Mechanically, I've learned that most problems can be resolved through contemplation.
Off Topic replies have been split to a separate topic in Forum Feedback. Please stay on Pedal Steel topics in the section of the forum. Thank you.
-𝕓𝕆𝕓- (admin) - Robert P. Lee - Recordings - Breathe - D6th - Video
- Bill Hankey
- Posts: 7666
- Joined: 13 Apr 2001 12:01 am
- Location: Pittsfield, MA, USA
Additional off topic replies will be deleted, as were the two I just encountered. Let's keep this respectful and to the point, please.
-𝕓𝕆𝕓- (admin) - Robert P. Lee - Recordings - Breathe - D6th - Video
- Bill Hankey
- Posts: 7666
- Joined: 13 Apr 2001 12:01 am
- Location: Pittsfield, MA, USA
OXIDATION ,is the culprit that has plagued guitar string manufacturers for many years. Some have been known to experiment with POLYMER or SYNTHETIC material to retard OXIDATION. The stifling of sound production by surface treatments has proven to be unpopular with those who are seeking the pure tones produced by the high carbon music wire. The BRONZE windings made from bronze alloys are wrapped around tinned mandolin wire. My expertise, such as it is, lies within the various effects of OXIDATION under different conditions.
-
- Posts: 66
- Joined: 23 Sep 2010 8:58 pm
- Location: New Mexico, USA
I would venture to say no more than corrosion has plagued battery cables. The translation for oxidation is laziness be it the hood of your car, your finest silver or your guitar strings. Of course it's a natural process but it can be diminished or accelerated by how you care for your rig. Wipe em' down after each use and be done with it. Every few times damp the rag with alcohol.
In 6-string world the Elixir brand (coated) guitar string has proven to be quite popular they do most certainly sound superb.
In 6-string world the Elixir brand (coated) guitar string has proven to be quite popular they do most certainly sound superb.
- Bill Hankey
- Posts: 7666
- Joined: 13 Apr 2001 12:01 am
- Location: Pittsfield, MA, USA
Georg,
Thanks for your interesting report on the consequences of neglect, as well as the rewards of proper maintenance of a pedal steel guitar. I had taken exceptions if you will, on your description of a "damp" basement. If that had been realized from the start of the 4 year hiatus, (the period away from your DEKLEY), I'm sure that you realized your heedlessness in due time. At least, I would hope so, knowing that a DEKLEY is a fine instrument.. much too fine for abandonment. I don't need to be reminded that it's none of my business. The amazing durability of a musical instrument IF it is locked inside a case, would increase the excitement of collectors roaming about searching for misplaced musical instruments.
Believe it or not, I'm satisfied to use a quality transmission fluid for the lubrication of moving parts beneath my steel. Extreme care to prevent seepage, can be accomplished by applying minuscule amounts on wear surfaces. Common COTTON SWABS dipped in a bit of fluid, and applied dexterously to avoid "overkill" and leakage, works fine for me.
Thanks for your interesting report on the consequences of neglect, as well as the rewards of proper maintenance of a pedal steel guitar. I had taken exceptions if you will, on your description of a "damp" basement. If that had been realized from the start of the 4 year hiatus, (the period away from your DEKLEY), I'm sure that you realized your heedlessness in due time. At least, I would hope so, knowing that a DEKLEY is a fine instrument.. much too fine for abandonment. I don't need to be reminded that it's none of my business. The amazing durability of a musical instrument IF it is locked inside a case, would increase the excitement of collectors roaming about searching for misplaced musical instruments.
Believe it or not, I'm satisfied to use a quality transmission fluid for the lubrication of moving parts beneath my steel. Extreme care to prevent seepage, can be accomplished by applying minuscule amounts on wear surfaces. Common COTTON SWABS dipped in a bit of fluid, and applied dexterously to avoid "overkill" and leakage, works fine for me.
- Bill Hankey
- Posts: 7666
- Joined: 13 Apr 2001 12:01 am
- Location: Pittsfield, MA, USA
Georg,
I really would have been interested in examining the DEKLEY steel after 4 years of no play in the basement. An old friend gave me some old banjo parts a while back in time. The strings purchased back in the 30's and 40's were stashed in the compartment of one of the banjo cases. The strings are looped to facilitate attachment. Do you remember if the DEKLEY detuned so much, after storage, that it sounded like a new tuning? SMILEY ROBERTS has been playing his DEKLEY for a great number of years. I'll tell him about your 4 year hiatus, if I see him. I've been thinking about testing the tensile stretch and breaking points of various makes of .010 and .011 strings. Trying to determine the location of where the string was manufactured may require much legwork. Trying to determine a sensible time to change the 3rd G# string, of the 9th tuning, has not been agreed upon to date.
I really would have been interested in examining the DEKLEY steel after 4 years of no play in the basement. An old friend gave me some old banjo parts a while back in time. The strings purchased back in the 30's and 40's were stashed in the compartment of one of the banjo cases. The strings are looped to facilitate attachment. Do you remember if the DEKLEY detuned so much, after storage, that it sounded like a new tuning? SMILEY ROBERTS has been playing his DEKLEY for a great number of years. I'll tell him about your 4 year hiatus, if I see him. I've been thinking about testing the tensile stretch and breaking points of various makes of .010 and .011 strings. Trying to determine the location of where the string was manufactured may require much legwork. Trying to determine a sensible time to change the 3rd G# string, of the 9th tuning, has not been agreed upon to date.
-
- Posts: 66
- Joined: 23 Sep 2010 8:58 pm
- Location: New Mexico, USA
- Bill Hankey
- Posts: 7666
- Joined: 13 Apr 2001 12:01 am
- Location: Pittsfield, MA, USA
Mike Davidson,
Mike, I have dismantled a few old typewriters looking for quality machine screws, and dozens of useful contrivances manufactured in the earlier days when things were built to last. We are living in an age of cheap plastic goods, that only weigh a fraction of what yesterday's manufactured goods weighed. I've reasoned that shipping charges would defeat any attempt to return to quality merchandise, shipped from foreign eastern countries. Our outlets are saturated with goods manufactured in foreign countries. It's quite a task making correct determinations. Double boxing and several liberties taken by distributors, have put me on my toes for quite some time. Back to the guitar strings, next.
Mike, I have dismantled a few old typewriters looking for quality machine screws, and dozens of useful contrivances manufactured in the earlier days when things were built to last. We are living in an age of cheap plastic goods, that only weigh a fraction of what yesterday's manufactured goods weighed. I've reasoned that shipping charges would defeat any attempt to return to quality merchandise, shipped from foreign eastern countries. Our outlets are saturated with goods manufactured in foreign countries. It's quite a task making correct determinations. Double boxing and several liberties taken by distributors, have put me on my toes for quite some time. Back to the guitar strings, next.
Last edited by Bill Hankey on 3 Dec 2010 12:27 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- Lee Baucum
- Posts: 10326
- Joined: 11 Apr 1999 12:01 am
- Location: McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier
- Bill Hankey
- Posts: 7666
- Joined: 13 Apr 2001 12:01 am
- Location: Pittsfield, MA, USA
- chris ivey
- Posts: 12703
- Joined: 8 Nov 1998 1:01 am
- Location: california (deceased)
- Bill Hankey
- Posts: 7666
- Joined: 13 Apr 2001 12:01 am
- Location: Pittsfield, MA, USA
Chris,
There really is a method to all this madness. String management on the pedal steel guitar is crucial to remain in conformity with a trouble free playing experience. It's a sure bet that very few musicians are aware of the subtle changes in tonalities that occur on a daily basis. I'm going to make an attempt to point those changes out. Just about everyone these days continue to harp about tonality. I'm here to hopefully point to the least suspected reasons for those subtle changes from steel to steel.
There really is a method to all this madness. String management on the pedal steel guitar is crucial to remain in conformity with a trouble free playing experience. It's a sure bet that very few musicians are aware of the subtle changes in tonalities that occur on a daily basis. I'm going to make an attempt to point those changes out. Just about everyone these days continue to harp about tonality. I'm here to hopefully point to the least suspected reasons for those subtle changes from steel to steel.