Selecting a Material

We currently have two materials that are available for order, these are 1mm Nitrided DC04 and Ember Stainless Steel. We also offer the 1.2mm Ember Stainless Steel option for some scales.

What are the differences

There are fundamental differences in the look, feel, the sound and even the smell of these materials. We will try to highlight some key differences between them as well as offer two videos of identical scales recorded in the same environment using the same equipment.

See our Standard Scales

Which is better?

The answer is, “Neither & both”. Both materials have their pros and cons or quirks and pleasantries. Therefore to some people, Nitrided might be the best option, whilst for others Stainless, and then for the more concise musician a collection comprising of both might be most suitable.

Stainless vs Nitrided

Aesthetic
Stainless has a far more copper appearance with sometimes presenting as a shiny steel colour.
Nitrided tends to have a grey appearance that can be manipulated to appear blue/green, as well as brassing
Sustain
Stainless has a longer sustain, almost 50% longer from our measurements. This can be very appealing to many, especially beginners. However, the sound can sometimes become muddy if playing quickly or if the scale doesn’t translate to Stainless well.


Nitrided tends to be more suitable & desirable for composers and avid musicians that want a bit more control over their instrument. 

Timbre
Stainless has a brighter sound.
Nitrided offer a more ceramic sound & feel.
Volumn & Dynamic Range
Stainless consistently produces louder volumes when compared to Nitrided.
Nitrided tends to produce a lower volumn when struck at a similar strength.
Rust
Stainless has a slightly higher resilience to rust, however it is more susceptible to discolouration as the Patina can be easily affected.


When compared to Stainless, Nitrided is more resilient to scratches.

Range & Scale
Overall, Stainless can produce a wider range of notes on both ends of the spectrum. Stainless is a harder material which allows it to hold larger notes, this means it is possible to get lower and deeper notes. To the same effect, it allows for smaller notes to vibrate meaning higher notes are achievable as well.


With the control achievable on Nitrided, it is far more suitable for extended scales with many elaborate notes, for example, mutants with 11 or more notes on the top. With Stainless these tend to bleed and cross talk a lot more than Nitrided.

Scale

Watch Video

Stainless Steel​​
Nitrided