Hi Jim How do you account for claims that changing the frequency of a back length can effect a change in the sound characteristics for the corresponding speaking length of a string then ? And while I have your ear... grin... I've also heard discussion along the lines that longitudinal vibration zips right past the bridge termination and can play a part in excitation of transverse modes in the back length. If you get time to jot down some thoughts on that matter I would be greatfull Thanks RicB Jim Ellis writes Before any of you go head-over-heels tuning the back lengths of strings to the overtones of their corresponding speaking lengths, you need to be aware that the notion that an individual string couples from speaking length to its corresponding back length across the bridge is a myth. It does not, and cannot, unless that particular bridge termination is defective. Whole groups of speaking lengths do couple to whole groups of back lengths by the vibrations of the bridge, but individual coupling does not occur between a single speaking length and its corresponding back length the way it does at the front duplex where it merely bleeds across a single termination point. I have found cases where a back length would vibrate at the frequency of a speaking length of another string as much as two octaves away from it. Sincerely, Jim Ellis
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