String Motion

[Delwin D Fandrich]

robert sadowski wrote:
> 
> Dear List,
>      Something I've always wondered - How much sound is produced by a
> string setting the surrounding air in motion as opposed to transferring
> energy to the bridge?  Would strings of a three string unison upset each
> others waves by being too close together?
> I wondered this yesterday while tuning a really bad Story & Clark console
> (were there any good ones?) with a lot of bad string spacing.  Some of the
> unison wires were almost touching each other but not close enough to
> "buzz".  I know I could look this kind of thing up but why should I when
> there's you guys out there (Del, are you reading this?)
> 
> Regards,
> Bob Sadowski
> Erie, PA
----------

What, you think I carry any of this stuff around in my head? I have to
look it up too. Usually. This time though...

There is some coupling of energy from one string to the next that takes
place through the bridge, but essentially none through the air on either
side of the string. Viscosity is too low. For any significant amount of
energy to be coupled through the air, the strings would have to be so
close together that their somewhat erratic motions would cause them to
come into physical contact—which itself would transfer some energy, but
that’s a whole other wok of fish.

—ddf