EXTRACTED FROM: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/djembe-l/message/6691

From: "Johan Botha" <johhanb@2wise.co.za>
Date: Thu Aug 17, 2000 4:22 pm
Subject: Re: rope diameter/type

ADVERTISEMENT
Scott L Pivnik <spivnik@j...> writes:
> If your drum has not changed in tone in 6 months, it might not be pulled
> very tight. The tighter you pull it, the more the head gives over time,
> lowering the tone. Also, if you have a lot verticals that are close
> together, I would think that 6mm rope used for the verts would be very
> difficult to work with.

The drum is tuned tight - performance quality. tough skin.
6mm is not too difficult to work with.

> I can't believe that different thickness of ropes is gonna make any
> difference you will be able to hear. After 4mm, I think that anything
> more is overkill. The ropes just have to be strong enough to hold the
> proper tension without stretching or breaking.

In my experience - making instruments - everything makes a difference (god is in
the details). The trick is to find the combination of factors that will ptoduce
the best result - the best sound.
Thicker ropes have higher breaking loads than thinner ropes - so they should
exert more pull, and maintain the tension over a longer period of time. As with
the drum I tuned months ago.
I used 6mm 8 braid polypropylene sailing rope.

Johan Botha <johhanb@2wise.co.za> writes:
> > Biggest problem in testing djembe is the variables - to do this
> > properly one would have to use the same drum and head, and re-string
> > it a number of times with the different diameters, tuning it up each
> > time to see if there's an audible difference. Since every (wood)drum
> > is an individual and so is each skin.

Scott L Pivnik <spivnik@j...> continues:
> Not only that, but it would have to be pulled exactly the same tightness,
> and things like atmospheric conditions, which are impossible to control,
> unless you live in a "clean room," will make any drum sound different
> from day to day (or even hour to hour) with the same skin and ropes.

For such research to be valid would require rigorous conditions - to isolate the
variables, and measure their effects.
At least we're not in a predictable universe.

johan

johhanb@2wise.co.za

~~~~
(R)

Message 6691 of 15189 | Previous | Next [ Up Thread ] Message Index