Dear Wim,
Since it is the stress (ie Tension p.u.cross sectional Area) on the
string which causes it to break (at the 'Breaking Stress'), the
critical factors for a particular string material are simply pitch and
string length. Despite continuing mythology, absolute thickness is not
relevant (provided there are no significant irregularities in the
string material) - a thicker string will simply need a greater force
(ie Tension) to reach the breaking stress than a thinner. The stress
will be the same on the thick string as on the thinner.
A nylgut string of 0.44 on a lute of 60cmm string length at A415
(giving a theoretical tension of around 3,9Kg) should below the
breaking stress of nylgut - provided the formulation hasn't changed
again (as Matthew points out) or there was a dud batch.
I say 'theoretical' tension since slender strings thin significantly on
stretching so the 'at pitch' diameter will be less than the unstressed
diameter......
Why don't you contact Mimmo for his view?
regards,
Martyn
__________________________________________________________________
From: Matthew Daillie <dail...@club-internet.fr>
To: Wim Loos <wjglso...@gmail.com>
Cc: LuteNet list <lute@cs.dartmouth.edu>
Sent: Monday, 19 February 2018, 9:37
Subject: [LUTE] Re: Broeken nylgut string
You didn't mention the string length of your lute so we can't judge
whether 0.44 is the right diameter or not (it would certainly be far
too much for a 60 cm lute and would explain the snapping strings).
Unfortunately breakage is a common problem with the current Nylgut top
strings, particularly the 0.40 gauges. There best stuff was the shiny
nylgut made in 2014 (apart from the first batch which was dodgy) but as
apparently some players complained about the fact that it was smooth
and didn't have any surface texture (??!!) they stopped producing it
for lutes.
You could try La Bella or Kürschner nylon. Some players also like
carbon strings but I find them too thin for top courses.
Good quality gut is obviously very satisfactory sonically but you would
be extremely lucky to find any for a chanterelle that lasts more than a
couple of days of intensive playing.
There is at least one string maker using silk (an interesting, historic
alternative) but I have no experience of that and I don't know whether
he makes gauges suitable for chanterelles.
Best,
Matthew
> On Feb 19, 2018, at 8:27, Wim Loos <[1]wjglso...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Dear luteplayers,
> Within a relative short periode, two times my g' (0.44mm nylgut) on
a
> 7-c Renaissance lute has broken. Sounds this familliar to you? What
do
> you suggest as an alternative.
> Wim Loos
>
> --
>
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