OudSwede - 4-21-2021 at 12:36 AM
Hello!
I wonder if it is possible to use a Pyramide lute PVF strings for the D string? I know of the Aquila nylongut D sugar string, but is there a Pyramide
equivalent?
Currently, I use Pyramide lute PVF strings for ff (.041) and cc (.054) and gg (.70). For the DD I currrently use .060 (#L 1111). Medium tension, 60 cm
scale lenght, traditional bridge glued on soundboard.
Just guessing by the dimension, would it be possible to use Pyramid Lute PVF .83 for D (medium tension, 60 cm scale lenght)? Has anybody tried this?
Are there any disadvantages or advantages?
Kind regards,
Viktor
Brian Prunka - 4-21-2021 at 07:11 AM
this should work, but the tension will be a lot lower tension than the 1111 string you are currently using.
These gauges aren't exactly medium tension, 1111 is very high tension for a fixed bridge 60cm. So lowering it wouldn't be a bad thing. If you wanted
to use a wound string for d I would recommend 10095 or 1109 instead. I wouldn't go higher than 1010.
.41 and .54 are a little high but not crazy for the treble strings.
What are you using for the other courses?
OudSwede - 4-21-2021 at 09:48 AM
Dear Brian,
Thanks for the quick response.
I have a seven course oud, 60 cm fixed bridge, premium quality, lebanese.
Pyramid lute set: OU608
LC 54 cc 0,54 Carbon 3,7kg
LC 70 gg 0,70 Carbon 3,7
L 1111 dd 0,60 Silver-plated wound on nylon silk 3,7
L 1017 AA 0,71 Silver-plated wound on nylon silk 3,7
L 1026 FF 0,86 Silver-plated wound on nylon silk 3,7
L 1239 C 1,13 Silver-plated wound on nylon silk 3,9
Plus the ff:
L 41 ff 0,41 Carbon 4kg
Do you recommend me to lower the tension? What set (or individual strings) do you recommend instead?
Pyramid list here: http://pyramid-saiten.de/_assets/_pdf/Premium%20Oud%20Strings%20Set...
The oud sounds very nice with these strings, but I would of course not use strings that risk the quality of my instrument.
Kind regards,
Viktor
Brian Prunka - 4-21-2021 at 10:49 AM
Something is wrong with those tensions. Note that some of the tensions listed don't match up between different sets, i.e., 60cm d string using 1111
is marked as 3.7 Kg in one set and 4.2 Kg in another set. This makes no sense. Using pyramid's own calculator I get different tensions for these.
Personally I prefer lower tensions and would use something like 10095 1016 1023 1237 for the wound courses. But it varies from oud to oud.
Results from Pyramid calculator:
f' .41 PVF: 4.0 Kg
c' .54 PVF: 3.9 Kg
g .70 PVF: 3.7 Kg
d 1111: 4.2 Kg
A 1017: 3.65 Kg
F 1026: 3.85 Kg
C 1239: 3.9 Kg
On fixed bdrige, I consider 3.4-3.7 to be medium tension, and 3.7 - 4.0 high tension. I don't recommend any strings above 4.0 for a fixed bridge oud.
Personally I aim for 3.0-3.4 mostly.
OudSwede - 4-21-2021 at 11:49 PM
Thank you so much for the comments!
I have just spoken to the owners of German Music Strings shop (I live in the EU), and they recommended me the .087 PVF string for the DD to my oud. I
have just ordered it, and soon its time to try it!
OudSwede - 5-15-2021 at 12:27 AM
Hello again!
I have now tested the pyramid pvf string for dd (.87 mm) and sadly, it did not work out. The sound was dull and very different to the other strings.
So, my test failed...
Now I have ordered wound strings instead for the dd.
/Viktor