Fw: Twisting New Bass Strings

[Farrell]

Hello Pianotech folks interested in the bass string twist thread. Below is my email to Jim Arledge of Arledge Music Wire and his response:

Terry Farrell

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Pianotuner at aol.com 
To: mfarrel2 at tampabay.rr.com 
Sent: Friday, August 03, 2007 11:01 PM
Subject: Re: Twisting New Bass Strings


In a message dated 8/3/2007 5:47:51 PM Central Daylight Time, mfarrel2 at tampabay.rr.com writes:
  Hi Jim,

  We have been having a discussion on the PTG Pianotech List about putting a twist in new bass strings. I had pointed out that Arledge recommends to not put a twist into his strings. 

  What is it about the design and/or construction of your bass strings that differ from others that leads you to recommend no twist?

  Below is a copy of some of the most recent conversation on this thread:

  Thanks.

  Terry Farrell
  Farrell Piano

Dear Terry,

Thanks for the e-mail. Let me put in my two cents. 
First , let me say that false beating is our enemy.
You probably would not put a twist in plain wire. Right?
However there is a reason you should put a twist in most bass strings. Here is my simple explanation of why.
The old fashion, tried and true traditional synchronized lathe winding technique yields one minor anomaly.
After the string is made it will unwind or backlash a little when removed from the machine. This is due to the torsional forces imparted during the winding process.
The reason string winders have traditionally recommended to put a twist in the wire on installation is simply to off set this built-in backlash. It should take less twists (maybe only 1/2) in the big wires and more twists (maybe 1 1/2) in the small ones. The exact amount will be known by your string maker.

Well, my approach was to build a new type of string winding machine that among other things calculate this backlash and turn one side of the lathe at a slightly different rate as to offset the backlash. The length and diameters being  variables. The proof that the derived formula  works is that when the string comes off my machine there is no backlash. So why twist?

After installing my strings in many high profile studios here in Music city USA my honest opinion is that my strings are purer. Of coarse I would say this. But truely they  seem to have less trash and more fundamental, easier to tune and more consistant tone. Not perfect but better. 

You are welcome to pass this e-mail on to anyone interested.

I hope this explanation helps,

Best Regards,
James Arledge RPT
Arledge Music Wire







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