<HTML style="FONT-SIZE: x-small; FONT-FAMILY: MS Sans Serif"><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=windows-1251"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.2963" name=GENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY> <P> <DIV>Jason asked: "<FONT size=+0>Mismatched, yes. But given that they are matched, how much difference does </FONT> <DIV><FONT size=+0>the length of the bare ends make?"</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3>Jason,</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3>For those who really want to "smooth out" the Inharmonicity, it is a "tool" for such. Even though the asthetics will suffer, it is a way to get the inharmonicity more balanced. To speak directly to your question: It makes a huge difference, if the string maker is "Schraffing", (i.e. putting a huge "safety factor" into the remade set of strings)!!! </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3>We've all seen bare wire lengths in "new" strings of 1.5" to 3"!! That sort of thing is what really got me going several years ago, when I wrote a "tirade" message that was in the Journal, about string makers. Because of that Tirade, I was able to connect with some string makers that gave a damn and wouldn't "jack the price", for their stupidity. (of course, no names will be used/mentioned.<G>) Currently we have some really knowledgeable string makers available: James Arledge; J.D. Grandt & Ari Isaac, to name a few. Oh, and Sanderson as well. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3>When the String Makers know the ins/outs of scaling, it makes for a mutual need for accuracy and craftsmanship that makes our work so much easier and gratifying.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3>Regards,</FONT></DIV></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Joseph Garrett, R.P.T.</DIV> <DIV>Captain, Tool Police</DIV> <DIV>Squares R I</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <P></P></BODY></HTML>