More off-topic, but I have had one (only) client who could break a NEW bass string, while you wait, so to speak. If there is one artist, there are bound to be more out there. I had just installed a fresh bass string, and the client (a piano professor) asked if I'd like him to break it. I smiled and said that it couldn't be done. That was a mistake on my part. He played a certain piece, and BAM -- the new bass string let go. He then said that he had routinely (but not intentionally) broken strings since he was ten years old, and that another tuner had given him a tuning hammer to keep up with the unisons on the many repaired/replaced strings. I was watching him play during the string-breaking selection. It wasn't a particularly loud piece, nor did he seem to be trying to abuse the piano. Over time and many discussions with others about this phenomenon, apparently it has to do either with the style of playing (attack, in spite of appearances), and/or the amount of repetitions occuring on the same string in short succession... something about the string is not allowed to "settle out" from its initial excusion before it is struck again. This has been called a "green stick" or "fatigue" break. Regardless of the why, it would seem that any of us should be able to duplicate this condition by drumming, playing hard, or otherwise. However, I've never been able to duplicate this kind of results, regardless of method. Jim Harvey (I'm not an engineer, nor do I play one on TV)
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