Do BASS Strings wound to the RIGHT sound better than BASS strings wound to the LEFT ??

Why is that?

They probably do, but only if they are wound north of the equator.

They only sound better if the loop is wound the opposite way.

Is this a tentative agreement that they do?

Opposite the loop winding, OK, have to test that one ... good

North/South of the equator ... that does affect the direction of water as it flows down a drain etc..

Do BASS Strings wound to the RIGHT sound better than BASS strings wound to the LEFT ??
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Looking at the string from tuning pin or hitch pin end?

Del Fandrich is bringing his new adjustable porta piano jig thing that is made for testing bass strings to his seminar this saturday. I will bring this up to him and have a look at our selection of wound strings available for testing.

Gene,

That is a fabulous offer. Thank You.

Del may factor in an impedance quotient of some kind before he gives an answer.

Tuning pin or hitch pin end ? Wouldn't it be the same regardless of which end you look from ??

Ah, I am just going to leave this one for sure......too much potential.....sorry Larry...

Man, and I thought that I had too much time on my hands......

Del may factor in an impedance quotient of some kind before he gives an answer.

Tuning pin or hitch pin end ? Wouldn't it be the same regardless of which end you look from ??
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So many people are using string impedance - never tried it myself but have seen it graphed out in the shop that I visit.
All to do with stiffness - cannot see it changing from left to right winding.

If you wind from the tuning pin to the right you need to wind from the hitch to the left to get symmetry - it looks the same direction at both ends because you turn your head or the string - joking but valid - the point was that it should not matter but as you have raised the issue, you or someone thinks there is a difference in tone. Maybe Del can shed some light on it - will let you know.

Uh, I was joking, but who knows? The ones I have looked at have all been opposite.

Question posed to a bass string maker this morning:

Does it make a difference which way the copper is wound on the core, to the left or to the right? Does it make a difference in the tone?

Answer:

Absolutely No !

But if someone is believing in water diviners, feng shui and so on.... maybe there is a difference ;-)

Maybe some are left handed because the loop was put on the wrong end. (Let's see if I get any bites...)

A little more from the experts:

I thought the answer was no. But I was thinking of why the string is always tied to the right on the plate pin( hitch pin) and then tied to the left on the tuning pin.
I always see the copper wound to the right, so I was wondering. I think too much!

Response:
One thing is wrong on your statement : The string is tied to the right anyway ... on both sides the same : on the hitch pin side and also on the tuning pin side ... both to the right.

It´s like a wet towel : one one side you must twist it to the right ... and on the other side .. you must also twist to the right to get the water out of him.


The winding direction depends only on the motor of the winding machine ... nothing else.

Only Steinway winding machines turn the strings on the other direction than all the others .. funny .. but no changes in sound.

I have sent the participants in this idea some interesting facts on Bass strings.

"UprightTooner" no pm's?

They are wound that way as most winders are right handed. Left handed winders sometimes go the other way (Ari Isaac winds both ways, for example)

sj

Exactly

No PM's. I want to avoid gossip.

I would be willing to take a chance with someone, like you, that uses the phrase "slice of the human condition" to not gossip. But why not just post those facts here? If there is a very good reason not to I can contact your email.

No Gossip ....

Just a preference .....

Been thinking about this... For all the good it did me...

I've often wondered why say, with a 9' Bosendorfer for example, the wrappings are reverse of American wrappings. They do seem to have a better sound on that particular model that something similar in an American made piano has when comparing tonal characteristics. But then again, it could be better voicing or better quality hammers too I suppose? I say and wonder this aloud because, a few times, I have had the lower bass strings break on one of my concert Bosendorfers during tuning or playing. I needed replacements fast because they were way down low. Ordering a complete new set of replacements as "just in case wires" is not plausible as our cost on something like that is astronomical. I tied a knot but, the string core was to big to raise it up to pitch without re-breaking the wire again and again... I sent off to Schaff for a duplicate wire sending in the old wire. The new wire was of course, wrapped in the opposite direction as the original. It sounded pretty darn good too however, it did not sound as good as the original but, I do not know why... Thus the reason for saying "Been thinking about this... For all the good it did me..."

Addendum: I wonder if they are wrapped tighter?

Interesting observation Jerry about the tightness of the wrap ...

I honestly don't know that answer BUT, I am using my first set of Heller Bass Strings from Germany and they are very nice!! Clean ... Windings end right where they should ..

I did re-scale the piano just a tad ...

They did a very nice job ... Great sound !!

It is my understanding that Heller makes the bass strings for Bosie. Someone correct me if I am mistaken on that one.

Larry,
Correct on the Bosie thing I believe.
I am on my 3rd or 4th set of strings from HellerBass and I would not go anywhere else now.


Regarding this statement, Jeff, I have been trying to pm you for almost a year. I have seen you make the statement that you pm others but will not accept pm’s yourself.
It is unfortunate to read that you have a pre-conceived notion of what pm’s might contain, that being gossip. I guess my pm to you will have to be your loss then.

Dan:

On occasion I will briefly turn on my PMs in order to PM an email address to someone. Usually this is to exchange large amounts of numerical data in order to not clog this Forum.

If you have something to say to me, I would really prefer you say it so everyone knows what is being said. But if you don't want everyone to know what you say, then I don't want to know either.

[Edit:] You can look at it this way, Dan. An alcoholic friend may decide not to go to a sports bar to watch a game with you, not because of what you might do, but because of what he might do. It is best if I just talk about pianos.

Getting it yet? Doesn’t matter for me either way, but if you are here to learn about pianos, I will leave the decision up to you.

Ships that have two propellers always have them turn in opposite directions so that the ship will stay on course better. Bichords on a piano should be left and right handed for the same reason; they will stay in tune longer.

And monochords should be made like modern crane cables are – non-rotational. The inside wrap should be in a direction opposite from the outside wrap.

This also explains why wound trichords fell out of favor. When restringing these left wound, right wound and non-rotational wound strings should be specified. (You know, the left goes on the left…)

If you are saying that you have a large amount of numerical data that has to do with pianos, but do not want others to know that you are giving it to me, then no thanks.

If you mean something else, then SPEAK PLAINLY.

Bosendorfer still winds their bass strings in house to their specific design.

Thanks George for the clarity. Haven't seen you around for a while...hope all is well with you.

Many here have already received the data from me a long time back.
Too many conditions attached with attempting to communicate with you directly. Small potatoes for me Jeff, when, and if you are interested, then you will make arrangements for that.

Regarding your comments about bass string making, perhaps you would be willing to contact the experts who make them already and share your instructions with them.

Good luck with all of this anyways.

Thanks for the suggestion, Dan. I plan on contacting the string makers in, umm, 13 days.

And when you are polishing key pins you should polish sharp key pins in a counterclockwise motion and naturals in a clockwise motion! Right!?