The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Thanks, now I understand. I agree, and have experienced the same as you. The outer shiny shell is very hard and can sound good, but the best I've found is just behind that shell, just like you, where the fibres are hard, straight and well packed.
When they include the outer shell and it is is thin, they also work well. If too thick, results are not so good.

Great to know that I'm on the right track. I just finished 50 bamboo toothpick needles and those sound pretty good too. The same principle applies to them, you have to find the best toothpicks and then get the straightest ones and work with that. I hardened them with wood hardener and dried them. So far so good.