Sometimes it's the simple things we do

[PrimitivePete]

So I have a longbow that I traded for about a year ago. It's one I always had my eye on and wanted. It's a hybrid, it's short, doesn't break the bank, looks like it's made very stoutly. I pulled the trigger on a trade and while I was happy with how the bow was built, I have to admit it sounded a bit loud for my taste. I was ready to give up on this bow and put it up for sale or trade. And let me tell you I tried changing the brace height, nock height, carbon arrows, aluminum arrows, heavy woodies, I tried using a glove, a tab, I tried different string silencers, the number and placement of the string silencers, i tuned it where I was getting great arrow flight, but damn the snap sound was nagging me. Like I said I was ready to let her go, until I did one change, I changed the string. Boing !!!! It was like I turned off the volume. The interesting part is I went from one low stretch string to another. The strand count is the same, nock fit the same, length the same, weird. But either way I'm happy now.
Keep this in mind, very often I think we don't give the bows enough of a chance, it's a reason I guess we see so many really nice expensive bows for sale. A little tinkering and patience help a long way.

[5deer]

   yes  so true   

[Orion]

Yep.  String material definitely affects bow noise.  I'm looking for a quieter low-stretch material than the D-97 I'm currently using.  I'd be interested in knowing the two string types/brands you used.   

[McDave]

Very true.  I had a similar frustrating experience lately tuning an ILF bow to shoot off the shelf.  I mean, it has a shelf, why shouldn't I be able to tune an arrow to shoot off of it?  But like you, I pulled all my tricks out of the hat to no avail, until I remembered that I had bought a feather rest a long time ago and never used it.  I put that on and it tuned perfectly!  You never know until you try.

[Maclean]

Thanks Pete. This is a great lesson to illustrate two things; 1. don't give up until you've tried everything, and 2. sometimes it's the obvious things that get overlooked most.   

[PrimitivePete]

I went from a Spectra to a Mercury string.

[George Tsoukalas]

Primitive Pete, I am glad you figured it out.
In my experience that thwacking sound you heard is indicative of an over spined arrow hitting the riser. It could also be from too low a brace height.
Jawge

[PrimitivePete]

George I initially thought that as well but after cycling through different shafts and spines I could only get the sound a bit better. One thing I thought is if were possible the different string material could affect the arrow spine ?

[Maclean]

Pete, did you make the Mercury string, or buy it?  If you bought it, where did you buy it from?

[PrimitivePete]

To be fair and honest I don't have a clue who I bought it from, I have bags of strings that I go through, must be over a 100 in between 6 plastic bags. But I did just order a new one from Ricks, he is a sponsor here and my last strings from him were great.

[Maclean]

Thanks Pete.

[Kirkll]

To be fair and honest I don't have a clue who I bought it from, I have bags of strings that I go through, must be over a 100 in between 6 plastic bags. But I did just order a new one from Ricks, he is a sponsor here and my last strings from him were great.

Is this the Rick you are talking about?  I've been buying his strings for a couple years now, and recently went from BCY X  to Mercury.... Nice stuff, no creep to it at all...

https://rickstraditionalbowstrings.com/

[George Tsoukalas]

Pete, absolutely. I'm a  B 50 shooter.  If I go to a low stretch string I could go up in arrow spine 5# and vice versa. Jawge

[PrimitivePete]

To be fair and honest I don't have a clue who I bought it from, I have bags of strings that I go through, must be over a 100 in between 6 plastic bags. But I did just order a new one from Ricks, he is a sponsor here and my last strings from him were great.

Is this the Rick you are talking about?  I've been buying his strings for a couple years now, and recently went from BCY X  to Mercury.... Nice stuff, no creep to it at all...

https://rickstraditionalbowstrings.com/

Yes Kirk, that is who I have been using recently for all my bows

[SS Snuffer]

I went to a SBD skinny string from D97 trying to get the most out of a 40 lb. bow. I went from a 30"  600 to a 29 1/2 500 just by making the change. That's allot of spine change,  ended up with a heavier arrow but less speed.

[Kirkll]

I went to a SBD skinny string from D97 trying to get the most out of a 40 lb. bow. I went from a 30"  600 to a 29 1/2 500 just by making the change. That's allot of spine change,  ended up with a heavier arrow but less speed.

Dropping down to a lighter weight skinny string on a lighter draw weight bow does make a huge difference in performance. But i'm not real fond of the higher pitch tone the skinny strings have.

 it's not that they are louder per say... just a higher pitch tone.  Think of a smaller diameter on a guitar string.....    Kirk

[Steelhead]

Sounds like the string made the most the difference in the quietness of your bow in regard to quieting your bow down in how you described it your stuation with that bow .Could be other nuances that helped.

Different Fast Flight materials can make a difference IMO.

Some of the low stretch string materials have a little more forgiveness.A little give to them.I think some bows shoot quieter and more pleasant with that little bit of give.

Even more twists in the string can give the string that little bit of give that can in some cases make a bow quieter.

I have noticed big differences in noise when swapping out strings on more than one bow.Anyway it can pay off.I hav a shoe box of strings like Pete above and can often try mutiple strings till I find the one thats the quietest and its also the most pleasant to shoot on the bow inevitably.

Yes ofcourse other factors can play into the quietness of your bow outside of just the string.But it can be the number one source of the problem to start with on a noisy bow.Can be.

[BWlongbow]

Thanks for sharing about the bowstring change that quieted down your bow. I will have to try that on my BW KB recurve to see if that helps.

[Steve Clandinin]

I found out years ago strings can make a heck of a difference, I ve tried many over the years . I make so many items, quivers , bows all my arrows, tabs etc, etc, but I never got into making Flemish strings. As of the last ten years or so I just use SBD strings all my shooting problems solved. My next order from Pierre will be my 76 th string from them, I believe they are the ultimate , made from D10.