My cheap paper clip alternative of Uitti Resonator on cello - still buzzing

The Scelsi/Uitti Resonators is a device made in metal attached to string instruments, like a cello in this case. It alternates the vibration of the strings and creates a metallic buzz. I was impressed when I listened to it. Listern to the piece by Giacinto Scelsi - Trilogia, I tre stadi dell'uomo, that resonator is employed.

A paper clip - a cheap resonator on cello


I asked my cellist if she has one, but sadly not. Then, I found that paper clips with wings (picture above) can serve a similar purpose. I clipped it at the end of the string, very close to the bridge, like the original Uitti resonator does. Here is the example.

The timbre of the paper-clipped cello reminded the sound of Tibetan Buddhist chant, the overtone singing. I recorded the sample of Buddhist chant from this record.

The spectrum pattern of the overtone singing has a strong bass fundamental and mid-frequency fade rapidly. However, there is a spike at the 2500 Hz frequency, this is the aura-like timbre of the overtone singing comes from.

The frequency spectrum of overtone singing at C2

The paper-clipped cello also resembles the spike at the 2500 Hz frequency. Moreover, the metallic paper clips create more harmonics in the spectrum, with a metallic timbre and overtone singing timbre combined.
The frequency spectrum paper-clipped cello (C2)

The frequency spectrum normal cello (C2)

There is a comparison between the normal cello and paper-clipped cello. The paper clip dampened the mid harmonic series, around 1040 Hz, resembles the pattern of overtone singing. The wings of the paper clip, physically vibrate with the sting, with the sting stop vibrating, the wings still vibrate for a fraction, resulting in a physical reverberation. 

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