mensur

plural mensurs

1. artsThe measurement of the length of the vibrating string from the nut to the bridge.

   In general gut tensions run toward the high end for a given mensur at a diameter equal to an equivalent nylon string, which would seem consistent with the 20% or so higher density of gut.

   2000 December 28, Dan O'Mara [username], “Gut vs Nylon string tension”, in rec.music.makers.bowed-strings (Usenet)

   2 more examples

   This is a slightly odd mensur for instruments tuned to a modern pitch of A-440 as it is slightly short for an instrument in F, which would be more comfortable at 65 cm or 66 cm, and it is too long for an instrument in G, which is more comfortable at 60cm or 61cm.

   2005, Daniel Larson, “A Set of Vihuelas: Matching Tone for Polyphonic Music”, in Lute Society of America Quarterly, volume 40, number 2, Lexington, Virginia: Lute Society of America, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 14

   His works show reasonably accurate workmanship, but at times his violin-making production is characterised by models that are too personal, leading to the size of the mensur being too long.

   2002, Roberto Codazzi, Cinzia Manfredini, editors, La liuteria lombarda del '900, Twentieth century Lombard violin making, Cinisello Balsamo, Milano: Silvana Editoriale, →ISBN, →OCLC, page 150