[CAUT] string level

[Fred Sturm]

On Apr 29, 2009, at 6:06 AM, Wolfley, Eric (wolfleel) wrote:

> I've taken to simply removing the dampers from that section while  
> doing this work. It only takes about 3 minutes to take them out and  
> then you have complete access right on the strike-point for string- 
> leveling plus the added bonus of being able to do a great job of  
> spacing and mating the hammers to the strings, setting let-off, etc.  
> It usually takes no more than 10-15 minutes to put the dampers back.  
> In that critical section of the instrument doing this seems like a  
> very good investment of time given the benefits of being able to see  
> what you are doing.

	I agree this is the way to go with those instruments that have the  
whole section with very close spacing between damper and capo, so it  
is next to impossible to see letoff. But there are a lot of  
instruments where it is just the last few dampers that are a bit too  
close to fit the level, and it's too much trouble to pull those  
dampers just for that purpose. (And, yes, there are plenty of work  
arounds, like using hammer mating to set string level). I have just  
thought many times that I sure ought to grind another mm off the width  
of the level, or make a new thinner one.
	So I have concentrated on making a thinner one. An instrument I would  
have liked to quickly check string levels on spurred me on to actually  
do something, so I fooled around a bit last weekend.
	About adding a magnet to the Mother Goose level (as suggested by  
Chris S), I don't see the point. Joe's level is a good design, the  
right mass, the right contact surface, a good balance and center of  
gravity, all work together to produce a good reading of plucked  
strings. Where a magnet makes sense is in a devise with less mass, and/ 
or one that is top heavy. There are a lot of potential designs for  
using a magnet to make a string level, either with a leveling bubble,  
or just as a flat surface to create a straight line. Me, I have a  
particular use in mind, so I will be pursuing the top heavy and  
slender design.
Regards,
Fred Sturm
University of New Mexico
fssturm at unm.edu


-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://ptg.org/pipermail/caut_ptg.org/attachments/20090429/eb715254/attachment.html>