Savart Journal
science and technology of stringed musical instruments
The strings of stringed musical instruments are subject to both reciprocating sliding wear due to contact with the player’s fingers and repetitive impact with a plectrum, therefore, they gradually lose their brilliance and responsiveness. Nevertheless, there has been almost no scientific investigation about the effects of play-wear on music strings and its determination. In this study, the investigation of play-wear on the strings of C1085 steel wire was performed using the lute-like Baglama stringed instrument. The wear loss of the strings was investigated using atomic force microscopy and the low level resistance measurement method. Increasing the number of wear cycles increased the surface roughness and material removal, identified by increased electrical resistance of the strings. The increase in the resistance and frequency were due to both a reduction and variations in the cross sectional area caused by wear.
Full TextArticle published Jul 2, 2015.
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The Savart Journal is published in collaboration with the Guild of American Luthiers.
Ferhat Bülbül
Ataturk University, Department of Mechanical Engineering, 25240, Erzurum, Turkey
Turkey
Dr. Bülbül is an associate professor of Material Science at the Department of Mechanical Engineering of Ataturk University. Current research interests include: Solid lubricant coatings, hard coatings, sputtering deposition, electroless deposition, tribology (friction-wear-lubrication), wear of stringed instruments.
Tevhit Karacali
Ataturk University, Department of Electrical-Electronic Engineering, 25240, Erzurum, Turkey
Turkey
Dr. Karacali is an associate professor of Electric and Electronic Engineering at the Department of Electric and Electronic Engineering of Ataturk University. Current research interests include: Circuits And Systems Theory, Photonics, Optoelectronics, Computer aided measurement and instrumentation.