Wire Types and Tone

[Daver]

Hey folks. I'm a user not a builder, and have a question regarding wire types. Is the difference in tone between say formvar and plain enamel purely the thickness of the insulation? Thanks for any input you can provide.
Dave

[copperheadroads]

different insulation do have different tone , but the biggest differences is the insulation thickness, Probably a better comparison would be poly wire SPN (Single Poly Nylon) compared to HPN (Heavy Poly Nylon) which will sound similar to Heavy Formvar
the heavy wire will have a brighter sound but smoother , kind of a hollower sound

[FunkyKikuchiyo]

It is not controversial at all to say that the thickness of the insulation makes an impact. Some say it is for its dielectric capabilities, some say it is for the way the coil builds. You'll get more arguments over whether two insulations of identical thickness will have any differences. I will say there are strong differences. Every dielectric material behaves a little bit differently (this is why we have so many different kinds of capacitors on the market, not just for audio but for the whole world of electronics), and these changes can be exploited for their benefits and quirks.

That is probably about as diplomatic as this thread will be.

[Daver]

Thanks gentlemen. So the insulation thickness may be the primary difference in tone but the material used also has some effect. OK I can live with that. That helps explain it better for me.
Dave