[CAUT] Storing spare bass strings

[Horace Greeley]

Hi, Andrew,

At 10:27 AM 5/12/2006, you wrote:
>Thanks Ed & Horace for the comments.  This sure beats building a 
>climate controlled hanging weight cabinet.

Yup.

>Are there any particular parts that you believe should be kept on 
>hand?  We are figuring on a few action pieces: 2 whippens 2 hammer 
>shanks & flanges, & 2 checks etc.

Having been burned on this several times - frankly mostly through my 
own arrogance - I'd suggest that you have at least two whippens from 
each of bass, tenor and treble (depending on how many different 
diameter wires are used in the springs); and, as you note, at least 
two shanks of each profile (however you and/or the manufacturer have 
that set up).  While I have not personally had check problems that 
would require replacement, I know some who have.  My preference is to 
have a box/bag of pieces of various kinds of leather, felt, bushing 
cloth, etc right to hand.  Other items might depend on the age and 
condition of the instrument.  If you have room for bass strings, you 
probably have room for some thing like this as well.

Also, while I think of it...a very cool trick I learned from Franz 
some time back is to carry a couple of lengths of each size of treble 
wire (13 - 16.5).  He carried these in plastic baggies labeled per 
size.  It's quite nifty to have a replacement right there when you 
don't have time to run back out to the car/truck/sidecar.

Hope there is something useful for you here.

Best.

Horace



>Andrew Anderson
>
>At 10:42 AM 5/12/2006, you wrote:
>
>>Hi, Andrew,
>>
>>I agree with Ed's suggestion.  I have done essentially the same 
>>thing, using a length of 4" sewer piping slung from overhead pipes, 
>>in an auditorium basement for over 20 years.  I keep sets for D, B, 
>>and L in it, replacing individual strings in the set as they are 
>>used.  The average life of the strings is probably on the order of 
>>5 - 7 years (I've never really thought about it).  So far, the 
>>average number of duds has been no higher than using 
>>new-from-the-maker strings.
>>
>>Best.
>>
>>Horace
>>
>>
>>At 04:16 AM 5/12/2006, you wrote:
>>
>>><< Particularly we want to have a spare for each of the wound strings on
>>>an S&S D (particularly mono and bi chords).  It is my understanding
>>>that wound strings are wound under tension and that if they aren't
>>>shortly returned to and kept under some tension will degrade to some
>>>extent >>
>>>
>>>Greetings,
>>>      My logic and experience are both different.  I have kept a 
>>> set of these
>>>strings, unused,  in a sealed PVC tube for the last 18 years at the school.
>>>Last year I needed  one and upon installation, it looked and sounded like a
>>>brand new string.  Carbon steel doesn't deteriorate unless it is 
>>>stressed beyond
>>>its elastic limit, or subjected to corrosive influences.  The copper , I
>>>think, does all of its resolution of stress instantly, since it is 
>>>so malleable.
>>>When the string maker takes it off the winding machine, it suffers all the
>>>deformation it is going to.
>>>     My suggestion is to simply put the strings in a straight,  airtight,
>>>container and don't worry about it.
>>>Regards,
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>Ed Foote RPT
>>>http://www.uk-piano.org/edfoote/index.html
>>>www.uk-piano.org/edfoote/well_tempered_piano.html
>>
>