stretching wire

[Ron Nossaman]

> I think my intuitive mind wants me to think that as the tension on the 
> wire increases, that the wire has to stretch.  On cogitating for a full 
> second, it would make sense that that cannot be the case (at least there 
> cannot be any appreciable stretch), otherwise, we would not be able to 
> raise the pitch on a given string.  If it stretched, the pitch would drop.

The wire does stretch when you add tension, it just stretches 
within it's elastic limit, and isn't a permanent stretch. Let 
the tension down, and it goes back to it's original length. 
Pre-stretching with a roller does the same thing. The wire 
stretches as you lean on it, and goes right back where it was 
when you quit - unless you pushed too hard and damaged it.
Ron N