String Calculations, etc.....

[Ric Brekne]

Thanks for the straight up answer Joe. 

I'd sure like to hear from some more on exactly this point... and in 
relation to other scaling programs/spreadsheets.

As for your closing comment.... thats exactly why the last thing that 
should be on anyones mind is some sort of protectionism.  Even the best 
scaling program out there isnt going to make a great scale designer out 
of anyone quick. This spreadsheet however, will more then likely create 
a bunch more enthusiastic customer-techs who know a lot more about the 
benifits of rescaling then they do now.

Cheers
RicB
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RicB,

Although, I'm not JD, I can say that ScaleMaster does take the "Steps" 
(between undercover winding and overcover windings in relation to the 
"swedge".), into consideration. Most String makers have their own 
preference as to the length of the Swedge/Steps. It does matter, as you 
well know. How much? Not too much, IMO. (Depends on how "anal" you are 
in scaling..<G>)

On a similar subject of this line of discussion, is the misconception 
that most have in regards to "Inharmonicity" and Harmonic Expansion, 
(i.e. "stretch"). In the real world Inharmonicity is not the same as 
Harmonic Expansion. The formula for Inharmonicity is simply that, a 
formula. Likewise with the Z formula, (i.e. "loudness" or "impedance". 
It is simply a formula for "getting one's ducks in a row", so to speak. 
Do these formulae help to make a piano sound and tune better? You 
betcha! Just don't expect for a "flat" Inharmonicity graph to produce a 
"flat" tuning. Get it?

All three factors, (Inharmonicity/Impedance/Harmonic Expansion) need to 
be considered in a thorough Scale Evaluation/Improvement. Scaling is a 
long learning curve that has a lot of experimentation/implimentation 
along the way.  Just running the numbers won't cut it, IMO. Food for 
thought.<G>
Regards,
,