#1691585 - 10/09/06 06:34 AM
Effective scale lengths
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Richard Fairall
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Registered: 10/09/06
Posts: 1
Loc: Cape Town, South Africa
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Can someone please put to rest the *myth* (?), perpetuated by a couple of builders, that the effective tension of a bass string can be increased by adding length beyond the nut or saddles. They say they improved the performance of a 34" low B just by lengthening the run to the tuner capstan, for instance. As an engineer, having understood that a string's frequency is linked to density, thickness, tension and VIBRATING length, I see no reason why this could be so.
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#1691586 - 10/16/06 03:17 PM
Re: Effective scale lengths
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Tom Capasso
MP Hall of Fame Member
Registered: 04/30/01
Posts: 7701
Loc: east meadow,NY,UNITED STATES
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I'm not an editor, but I'll take a crack at it.
However builders describe the results of this, they are trying to say that their "technique de jour" sounds better. If they say it improves the "effective tension", that's a mid-way step toward better sound.
I'm not sure that I've ever seen anyone make this claim (so I'd be interested in examples).
I've seen a number of related claims. And these make sense (whether they make a massive difference in the sound is for the consumer to judge).
1. Sometimes they talk about the angle that the string takes coming out of the nut. Whether they use a capstan (in the guitar world it's usually called a "string tree", even when it looks like a pulley), or angle the headstock, the goal is to hold the string more tightly in the nut, which helps the vibration be "true". If the string is tight in the nut, the vibrations won't cause the string to lift up, changing the vibration length and screwing it up.
2. Sometimes a similar type of claim/approach is used on the bridge. More commonly manufacturers offer "through body stringing", which connects the string to the body rather than the bridge.
Hope this helps.
Tom
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#1691587 - 10/25/06 12:32 AM
Re: Effective scale lengths
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jeremy c
10k Club
Registered: 02/01/01
Posts: 11017
Loc: Berkeley,CA,UNITED STATES
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I'm not an editor either (nor do I play one on TV).
I just thought I'd see what the editors were up to and saw this thread.
Some Gibson guitars allow you to adjust the string length between the bridge and the tailpiece and some allow you to change the angle at which the strings cross the bridge.
These adjustments definitely make the tension of the strings feel different.
Why?
I don't have a clue.
We all know that a strings pitch is determined by its length, thickness and tension but it appears as if there are other factors which affect how the tension of the string feels.
And I agree with Richard that there should somewhere, sometime be an article that discusses this issue.
I've felt the difference with my own fingers, so I don't think it is a myth.
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