musictomyears36 wrote:
Sorry to say but your explanation is wrong, the strings do not stretch to create a note change, you change notes on stringed intruments because you are shortening its length thus making half way 1 octave higher, 24th fret = 2 octaves higher. I take that back you actually do stretch strings but it all depends on your touch and will only change notes by a max of 10cents depending on fret size.
Cheers!![/color]
Could I respectly suggest you go and read up some form of construction manual (Cumpiano Natelson or equivalent) before commenting on a forum where people build from scratch, so have to know something of intonation/compensation & string theory, before telling them that they are wrong when all of your ducks aren't quite in a row.You are correct in stating it is the strings open length that creates a pitch but you by the mere act of fretting a note you also have to stretch the string some to make it contact the fret top (You are deviating it from it's 'natural' staight line). Therefore you are patially correct in that fret height is one consideration but also saddle height/position & neck relief are factors. Stretch, despite what you believe, is also important & relevant. But alas, touch is not part of the formula.
As far as Piezo's go, yes they are blind to what type of string you have on, they merely interpret the vibrations sent to them via the material between them & the source. But as Martin & others comment, each string has a different tonal quality so a different "colour palate" A steel string has a completely different set of overtones to nylon, sure the fundamental note is the same. Nylon is lighter than steel so will not have the same inertial energy, the whole note, whilst pitched the same, will be weaker but warmer sounding...how do you know this? because you can hear it when you pluck a string & how do you hear it? Through vibrations traveling through the air. It is the same for the Piezo, it "hears" these different vibrations.
The example you give of how magnetic pickups work is correct but piezo's are a different beast so you shouldn't apply the same thinking to them. As you obviously know, magnetic pups 'see' the disturbance through their magnetic feild & convert this to electrical energy, Piezo's convert physical vibrations much like your ears do.
Don't take the stance that because this is an acoustic forum that we only know about acoustic guitars, many of us have built or been repairing electrics for a number of years & have tried variations on what you are trying to do. If you want advice, which the tone of your OP indicated, then take it. If you know exactly what you want to do then you don't need to run it past us, just go ahead and blaze the trail.
Obviously left string compensation out of the equation to make the video clearer!
