Dan wrote: > Why restring with a more 'authentic' wire? Will it make a difference? > Don't know. The theory I am working under is, that in using the 'more like > the original' wire, that is, a little less stiff, that the musical result > might reflect this difference. Is this wire a little more flexable, which > might result in a tone which is not as aggressive, and with a slower decay, > and a little better harmonic development?) > Can't comment on the birdcage piano, but, for curiosity, what is the date? Also can't speculate on the potential for improving one of those beasties by using different wire, but how will you assess the results? Whether there is any tangible benefit will no doubt be relevant to whether the customer should be charged for the restringing...unless, of course, you have been asked to re-string anyway and are just substituting PureSound wire for modern, in which case your experiment will be interesting. I can comment on wire as it pertains to instruments that pre-date Juan's area of interest. He is attempting to produce a modern alloy product which simulates better the characteristics of pre-twentieth century steel wire ca 1840 to ca 1900, which is considerably different from modern music wire. His approach is not to duplicate the original, rather simulate with a product that is readily available now. Flexibility is an important property of old wire, probably the most critical factor in the difference between pre-1830 iron wire and anything available now (including Rose iron). In my view flexibility translates into higher internal friction, and quicker decay for high harmonics, hence a less metallic sound, i.e. a tonal effect - but that is still a speculative conclusion and part of an ongoing research project to study and reproduce historical iron music wire. This will not translate into an effect on overall sustain, though, since that is governed primarily by soundboard, downbearing and other such mechanical/acoustic design factors that have nothing to do with the vibrations on the wire. If we apply this conclusion to PureSound wire vs modern steel, to some extent, then, you might expect a less aggressive tonal quality, somewhat more mellow, but I doubt any observable effect on overall decay characteristics. Please report on your observations. Stephen Stephen Birkett Fortepianos Authentic Reproductions of 18th and 19th Century Pianos 464 Winchester Drive Waterloo, Ontario Canada N2T 1K5 tel: 519-885-2228 mailto: birketts@wright.aps.uoguelph.ca
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