>Ron, >Why would you presume that the plating be copper? The only reason copper is >used on bass strings, is that it's the easiest material and it has the >longest tonal life, under the established method of adding mass to strings. >If the plating system were viable, then several different types of metal >could be used, depending on the tone desired. The attempt by many >manufacturers of the late 1800's, early 1900's were trying different metals >for adding mass to the bass strings. Hence we have Iron wound strings, >Silnic, Copper plated iron and there's probably a few others we haven't even >detected. Then, of course, there is the Aluminum winding fiasco of the >1970's. >I agree with you, that a lot of things done to the piano have made it sound >less like a piano and more like a coffee can full of broken glass or >.....whatever. Most of this stuff was done with the idea of expediency and >cheapening the manufacturing process. >I was merely "supposing" "if it were possible". If it were possible, then >possibly we would/could almost completely eliminate the longitudinal >inharmonicity problem. Of course the real world is....taint >economical/practical to do, but I can dream can't I? <G> >Best Regards >Joe Garrett, RPT, (Oregon) Joe, Sure it's possible, and it didn't matter to me what the plating was. I just started with copper. Perhaps you could tell me what material you could plate a core wire with that would have the appropriate mass and still have the flexibility to vibrate like a wrapped string. Dreaming is a wonderful thing, especially if it incorporates some aspects of reality. I just wasn't aware there was any material known to science and available that would allow this. What is it called, and where can it be gotten? Ron N
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