Tech: Strings for a Siter?

Subject: Tech: Strings for a Siter?
From: Darowyn
Date: 20 Jul 08 - 05:34 AM

I am working on a Siter, which (no baby sitter puns please) is a small table harp sometimes used as part of a Gamelan.
It uses 21 strings on each side, all of the same gauge, which, I guess would be around 0.6 to 0.8mm, or 0.012 to 0.014 inches. Each string is about 350 mm (14 inches) long.
The reason for it being strung on both sides is that when a full gamelan changes from Pelog scale to Slendro ,or vice versa, you can turn the Siter over (definitely no puns here please- you'll have the social services round) and play in the other scale.
I don't really want to go out and buy 21 guitar E strings, and cut off the ends and cut them in half, so I'm looking for a source for the raw wire that guitar stings are made of.
I did buy some wire from a fishing tackle shop, but they had obviously got their decimal point in the wrong place, because their stainless wire was actually 1.2mm. It was very useful for supporting a climbing rose in the garden though.
Does anyone know where I can buy a reel of about 25 metres of guitar string?
Cheers
Dave

Subject: RE: Tech: Strings for a Siter?
From: Mr Happy
Date: 20 Jul 08 - 06:07 AM

Do you mean one of thesehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sitar?

Subject: RE: Tech: Strings for a Siter?
From: Mr Happy
Date: 20 Jul 08 - 06:09 AM

...........or one of thesehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siter?

Subject: RE: Tech: Strings for a Siter?
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 20 Jul 08 - 06:52 AM

You might be best off going to a supplier of piano wire. There is a useful conversion table at one such: http://www.smetals.co.uk/table6.htm.

Other suppliers can be found via google.

Subject: RE: Tech: Strings for a Siter?
From: Darowyn
Date: 25 Jul 08 - 02:56 AM

It's a Siter (I can spell, and I know my Indonesian Gamelan from Classical Indian Ragas). It is much plainer than the Wikipedia one. As far as piano wire suppliers are concerned, it was despair at the lack of suppliers of small gauge wire via Google that led to the request on here.
It occurred to me that Guitar sting makers must buy this stuff by the mile, and thought that maybe somebody might know a string maker.
I'll check out smetals- I have not tried them, though I have been in touch with four of five other suppliers. Either they don't stock the small sizes, or they have a minimum order of 100metres.
Thanks anyway
Dave

Subject: RE: Tech: Strings for a Siter?
From: Zen
Date: 25 Jul 08 - 05:13 AM

Why not contact Malcolm Newton? He's a nice bloke and might be able to help.

Zen