Alternative to rotor string

[Amconk]

I can’t find my packet of yellow rotor string. In the meantime, I found this pink nylon cord in the garage. It’s a bit thick, and a lot fabulous, but it works! I kinda dig it...

F35E5937-9DBA-45FC-ADCE-3BAFBE4DD62D.jpeg

[bigbandbone]

For years I've used braided fishing line. I have alway thought the yellow rotor string is too thick for any horns except Yamahas.

[BGuttman]

I've used 40 pound test squidding line. I had some nylon and then some polyester. Nylon tends to stretch but my polyester spool went AWOL. I think I paid under $10 for 500 yards -- about 10 lifetimes' worth.

In an emergency I used dental floss. Looked funny, but 3 years later I replaced it from shame -- it was still working fine.

[hyperbolica]

I use backing line for a fly fishing line. I've got a roll of 100 yards of it. Should be good for the next 100 years of trombones plus a fly line or two.

[timothy42b]

One vote for fly line backing.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Scientific-A ... thena=true

[Crazy4Tbone86]

Hey Do-It-Youselfers,

Just be careful with make-shift rotor strings. The more narrow the string, the more it cuts into metal with use. I have seen horns with severe etching on the stop arms and lever rods because the player used dental floss or narrow fish line for several years.

[BGuttman]

40 pound test fishing line is just about the size of the Yamaha string. I also have some 50 pound test fly line leader that's about the right size as well.

According to Russ Meyer (Band Instrument Repair), a good line should be polyfilament, 40 pound test, and polyester. Monofilament would be too stiff to work properly. 40 pound test is a good compromise between strength and size. Polyester because it doesn't stretch. Your Yamaha string is multifilament and polyester; and probably 40 pound test.

[timothy42b]

The old recommendation was 30 lb braided nylon, which used to be common fish line, but you don't see it as much.

We should measure the actual tension. I'd think it was about 3 pounds. But I don't have a string rotor to play with.