Friction/Buzz at Agraffes

[Fred Sturm]

Jeannie,
	I am skeptical that this is agraffe related, at least from my
experience. And four years and a 16 cent pitch raise are very minor in
the overall scheme of things. It's hard to diagnose based only on what
you have written, but I would try to have a completely open mind in
looking for sources. 
	First, to hone in on whether or not it <is> the agraffe, press a
screwdriver blade forward (speaking length side) of the agraffe and play
the note. Press hard enough that the speaking length now starts at the
screwdriver blade. The pitch should be appropriately higher, as you have
shortened the effective length of the string. Does the sound persist?
Also try damping the waste length (other side of the agraffe), pressing
with finger, inserting rubber mutes, whatever. If both these tests
remove the buzz/jangle, the agraffe is the likely culprit. If not, happy
hunting!
Fred Sturm
University of New Mexico

Jeannie Grassi wrote:
> 
> Ray and List,
> Boy, I was just about to compose a post on this very topic, but Ray beat me
> to it.  Maybe all the responses will be helpful to both of us.
> I tuned a 1983 Steinway L a couple of weeks ago that appeared to have been
> well taken care of prior to a four-year lapse in tuning.  I did a 16 cent
> pitch raise and as I raised the pitch in the tenor section, note for note,
> the strings began to jangle and vibrate and sound absolutely horrid.  I
> thought, at first that maybe the problem was with the bridge pins.  But
> later came back to the agraffes.  I lifted, shifted, prodded and prayed over
> each one and could not create any appreciable change.  Are there any other
> tricks I might try short of removing all of these strings and dealing with
> the agraffes that way?
> Could this be due to the kink in the wire from the piano having set below
> pitch for that four year period?  Could it be from someone over-zealously
> lifting the strings and introducing a kink?  Help!
> Jeannie
> 
> Jeannie Grassi, RPT
> mailto:jgrassi@silverlink.net
>