I have a 3 piece longbow, original limbs are 62" and I have a 16 strand string fast flight, I had a new set of limbs made 64"  it came with a 12 strand fast flight string. my question is can the different type of string material make a difference in sound? The 62" limbs and 16 string are dead quiet, the 64" limbs with the 12 strand is louder.

Whats the brace height? add silencers .IMHO it doesnt matter if 12 strand or 16 strand is louder or quieter ,you need to make it quiet in the end.

I have changed brace height and different silencers but there is a loud thunk on the shot. I Don't think the strand count is the problem but the string type. When I got the limbs back I got a new string also for the 62" limbs and with the new string loud old string quiet.

With a 2"difference in length you should have to adjust the brace.And a new string will stretch.

A thinner string should be quieter.  Are they the same type of fast flite material? Some materials are noisier than others.

Have you padded the string notch on the back of the limb tips?  That area can make a lot of noise on a recurve.

If your string is truly "Fast Flight" I'd dump it in a heartbeat.  Fast flight is the loudest high performance string material I've ever tested.

D-97 and D-10, for me anyway and are much quieter than FF on my bows with less creep.  Just a suggestion.

I will have to try a different type of string material I am not sure what type they are made of. What about 8125 I have some leftover from my compound days.

8125 is a very good string material and should work fine.

QuoteOriginally posted by soundman:
my question is can the different type of string material make a difference in sound?  

Yes

Different types of string material can change the sound--the level, but moreso the pitch.  

However...how the string is made, tuning, nock fit, silencer type and placement, number of strands in the string, your release (could be different with a different bow length), etc. etc. etc. will normally make considerably more difference than a material change.

Make sure the noise is not the arrow striking the shelf, it may not shoot the same arrow with both limbs.

Are your nocks by any chance tighter on the new string?  With all the different options in number of strands and no standard as to the diameter and design of nock throats, you almost have to get the serving custom matched to your particular nocks.  You can always add floss if they're too loose, but to tight will always be noisier from my experience.

String definitely can make a difference.  When I bought my LaClair Grayling Spirit (59 Kodiak copy) off of John Havard it had a FF on it.  It was really noisy. I went to a 12 strain D97, and what a difference.  Bow was quieter and it became a lot faster with the D97.

I would definitely look at a new string/ string material.

Mike

The nocks are actually looser of the 12 strand than the 16 strand. the arrows tune great of both bow limbs. I have tried numerous types and locations of string silencer. Right now I have the hush puppies on the bow and are the quietest. might have to try some bow hush also.

I have found that some recurves that are loud can be quieted by switching from fastflight to dacron endless loop. You will loose some speed, but it gets quiet.

try some heavier arrows

allright had a new string made out of excel and the noise is gone.It amazes me how a simple thing like material can make such a difference. Now to put on the hush puppies and make it completely quiet.

SBD

Like said different string materials all have a different tone.Some of my bows are quieter with D97 and some are quieter with like 450+ amd others with 8125.There is alot more different string materials when compared to the old days when you could choose dacron or FF.