Applicability of the Capstan Equation to Guitar Strings
The effects of friction were observed in electric guitar strings passing over an electric guitar saddle. The effects of changing the ratio of the diameter of the winding to the diameter of the core of the string, the angle through which the string is bent, and the length on either side of the saddle...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Institute of Fundamental Technological Research Polish Academy of Sciences
2019-07-01
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| Series: | Archives of Acoustics |
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| Online Access: | https://acoustics.ippt.pan.pl/index.php/aa/article/view/2379 |
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| author | Tom GROVES Jonathan Andrew KEMP |
| author_facet | Tom GROVES Jonathan Andrew KEMP |
| author_sort | Tom GROVES |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The effects of friction were observed in electric guitar strings passing over an electric guitar saddle. The effects of changing the ratio of the diameter of the winding to the diameter of the core of the string, the angle through which the string is bent, and the length on either side of the saddle were measured. Relative tensions were deduced by plucking and measuring the frequencies of vibration of the two portions of string. Coefficients of friction consistent with the capstan equation were calculated and were found to be lower than 0.26 for wound strings (nickel plated steel windings on steel cores) and lower than 0.17 for unwound (tin plated steel) strings. The largest values of friction were associated with strings of narrower windings and wider cores and this may be due to the uneven nature of the contact between the string and saddle for wound strings or due the surface of the windings deforming more, encouraging fresh (and therefore higher friction) metal to metal contact. It is advised to apply lubrication under the saddle to string contact point after first bringing the string up to pitch rather than before in order to prevent this fresh metal to metal contact. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b002f9bf8680493d9510366d2e9eac38 |
| institution | Matheson Library |
| issn | 0137-5075 2300-262X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2019-07-01 |
| publisher | Institute of Fundamental Technological Research Polish Academy of Sciences |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Archives of Acoustics |
| spelling | doaj-art-b002f9bf8680493d9510366d2e9eac382025-08-02T16:51:45ZengInstitute of Fundamental Technological Research Polish Academy of SciencesArchives of Acoustics0137-50752300-262X2019-07-0144310.24425/aoa.2019.129261Applicability of the Capstan Equation to Guitar StringsTom GROVES0Jonathan Andrew KEMP1University of St AndrewsUniversity of St AndrewsThe effects of friction were observed in electric guitar strings passing over an electric guitar saddle. The effects of changing the ratio of the diameter of the winding to the diameter of the core of the string, the angle through which the string is bent, and the length on either side of the saddle were measured. Relative tensions were deduced by plucking and measuring the frequencies of vibration of the two portions of string. Coefficients of friction consistent with the capstan equation were calculated and were found to be lower than 0.26 for wound strings (nickel plated steel windings on steel cores) and lower than 0.17 for unwound (tin plated steel) strings. The largest values of friction were associated with strings of narrower windings and wider cores and this may be due to the uneven nature of the contact between the string and saddle for wound strings or due the surface of the windings deforming more, encouraging fresh (and therefore higher friction) metal to metal contact. It is advised to apply lubrication under the saddle to string contact point after first bringing the string up to pitch rather than before in order to prevent this fresh metal to metal contact.https://acoustics.ippt.pan.pl/index.php/aa/article/view/2379guitarstringfrictionsaddlecapstanequation |
| spellingShingle | Tom GROVES Jonathan Andrew KEMP Applicability of the Capstan Equation to Guitar Strings Archives of Acoustics guitar string friction saddle capstan equation |
| title | Applicability of the Capstan Equation to Guitar Strings |
| title_full | Applicability of the Capstan Equation to Guitar Strings |
| title_fullStr | Applicability of the Capstan Equation to Guitar Strings |
| title_full_unstemmed | Applicability of the Capstan Equation to Guitar Strings |
| title_short | Applicability of the Capstan Equation to Guitar Strings |
| title_sort | applicability of the capstan equation to guitar strings |
| topic | guitar string friction saddle capstan equation |
| url | https://acoustics.ippt.pan.pl/index.php/aa/article/view/2379 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT tomgroves applicabilityofthecapstanequationtoguitarstrings AT jonathanandrewkemp applicabilityofthecapstanequationtoguitarstrings |