Sound string for pinch, bow or percussion musical instruments

Abstract: This invention consists of a new process for obtaining the sound strings of pinch, bow or percussion musical instruments, by increasing the specific density of the animal bowel or nylon core, through incorporation of impalpable powders of metal salts pigments or of metals.

Description: The invention relates to a sound string for musical instruments and to a process for the production of sound strings, preferably for low frequencies, for pinch and bow musical instruments. Animal bowel or nylon strings have a low specific density which can be increased by means of the procedure object of the invention, which is necessary in order to give the string itself also the required elasticity which allows it, especially at low frequencies, to follow the vibrations of the desired sound. Nowadays the specific density growth is always achieved by winding round a silk core a thin metal wire, generally made of copper in closely spiral shape. Document DE-C-69 165 (PIRAZZI & CO.) discloses a bowel string for a musical instrument, impregnated with a fine powder of a mineral substance. The innovative principle which allows such density growth to be achieved consists as claimed, of the incorporation in the nylon or animal bowel string core of impalpable powders of metal salts pigments, or preferably of metal powders, with grains of a diameter of less than 100 microns. This solution does not need the winding round their core of a closely turned thin metal wire, as is instead required by today's production procedures, which tend to increase the specific density without any homogeneity. The process of incorporation of the above mineral or metallic charges occurs by wetting them with water or distilled water, preferably in the proportions of 1 kg of powder for a water amount of up to 5 kg, thus forming a dense mud. By way of example, the metallic pigment powder made of red lead (Pb₃O₄), must be treated in the proportions of 1 kg with water or distilled water up to 5 kg. Metallic or metal alloys powders of granulometry of less than 100 microns, may be made of copper-zinc-tin-bronze-iron and its alloys- brass and lead, in the proportions of 1 kg, with a weight of up to 5 kg of water or distilled water. The single bowel tapes (of ovine, caprine and bovine origin), of which the future sound string will be made, are soaked in the mixture so obtained (powder and water). Several tapes charged in this way are then joined together, their necessary cohesion being ensured by means of proper glues, and once they are twisted at the mill and dried, the straightening up work can begin until a smooth, exactly cylindrical string of the desired diameter is obtained. If the string core is made of nylon, the incorporation will occur by melting the plastic mass and the mixture of charge powder. After such procedure, the making of the string can begin through extrusion and prospective straightening out at the tool. The strings thus obtained compared to those not treated, as showed by tests effected on musical instruments, provided a growth in sound volume and in the duration of vibrations, other conditions such as length and tension of the pull being equal. From what has been exposed above, the advantages and the practicalness of production of such sound strings in accordance with the invention are clear compared to those having a metallic wire coiling, in comparison with which they present a favorable alternative, especially with regard to the execution of musical compositions of the Renaissance and the Baroque ages.

Claims: A sound string for pinch, bow or percussion musical instruments made of animal bowel of ovine, caprine or bovine origin, or nylon or similar polyamidic plastic materials characterized in that this is impregnated and covered with impalpable metallic salt pigments or metal powder. A musical string according to claim 1 characterized in that the grains size of said metallic pigments or powder have a diameter of less than 100 microns. A method to produce musical strings according to claim 1, characterized in that said impregnation of said metal pigments or powder is made by wetting or preferably immersing said animal bowel of ovine, caprine or bovine origin, or nylon or similar polyamidic plastic material string in a mud of a mixture of water with metal salt pigments or metallic powder, preferably in the proportions of 1 Kg of pigment/powder for a water amount of up to 5 kg. A musical string according to claim 1, characterized in that the metal of said pigments or powder is copper and/or zinc and/or tin and/or lead and/or iron and/or their alloys. A musical string according to claim 1 characterized in that said metallic salt pigments or metal powder contains red lead (Pb₃O₄). A musical string according to Claim 1, characterized in that the specific density growth to the strings, especially for low sounds frequencies, is proportionally increased in proportion of a desired elasticity and consequently proportional sonority and duration of the notes produced.

Inventors: PERUFFO MIMMO, PERUFFO, MIMMO
Applicants: LOVATO GIANFRANCO, PERUFFO MIMMO, LOVATO, GIANFRANCO, PERUFFO, MIMMO
Application year: 1991
Main classification: G10D3
IPC codes: G10D3