[CAUT] Dead (New) bass strings

[Jim Busby]

Mark,

 

I twisted the strings an extra twist and all but a few (3 or 4) came
alive, like you said. I'm worried, however, that this may be temporary.
This piano is high profile so just to be sure I ordered a new Arledge
set. I'm still perplexed about this "old strings = dead strings"
thingee. I understand tarnishing, but the other set wasn't exposed to
air.

 

Please let me know how your strings turn out, in a few weeks.

 

Thanks,

Jim

 

________________________________

From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of
Mark Cramer
Sent: Thursday, August 16, 2007 6:50 PM
To: College and University Technicians
Subject: Re: [CAUT] Dead (New) bass strings

 

At the end of budget year, like many of you, I look for any supplies or
"must have" tools I can buy up, just so... well you know, after all you
are CAUTs!  ;>)

 

Of course there's nothing like having a small variety of shank/flange
sets and/or 1/2 dozen sets of unbored hammers on hand, for when that
rainy-day project finally comes along. This year however I was foisted
by mine own pitard, when I realized I'd used up the last trickle of last
year's budget on custom bass strings, for an instrument I'd done exactly
the same thing for two years prior! 

 

So I'm sitting with two sets of identical bass-strings for one 1963
Baldwin L. (yes the same one we're monitoring seasonal bearing change
on) One set is fresh, and the other is a March 05 vintage. Both sets
have been kept sealed nonetheless, and are shiny and new looking.

 

Then it occurs to me that we happen to have a 1979 L, and it's earmarked
for an action reconditioning and treble re-string... so why not?

 

Well the measurements worked out quite well, within 2 or 3mm if I
recall, placing the winding just a wee bit closer to the bridge(s). And
I can live with that. 

 

However, this is a "1979" Baldwin, and the strings were made for a
"1963" model................. are you with me?

 

Anyhow after a few mixed results, we hit on a plan that seemed to work:

 

We clamped a tapered punch in a bench vise, placed the hitch-loop over
it, then gently tapped the loop down with a hollow dowel until the loop
enlarged to "Accujust" size. We allowed the string to rotate free and
watched the deformation of the loop very carefully.

 

So far so good. The bass section sounds great!

 

However, the tenor wounds sounded a little dull on first raising. So we
unhitched them and gave them a twist, pulled them up, listened, then
un-hitched them and gave them another twist.

 

They sounded better for a moment, then became dull again. Whether due to
their age, or our little "super-sizing" experiment, it seemed the
windings may be slipping around the core.

 

So we twisted them again... what've we got to  lose?

 

Anyhow, they've been at pitch for a week or two now, and the
tenor-wounds sound just fine; no discernable beats, no rattles and a
very nice tone for this tricky-transitional area of the bridge. 

 

I'll certainly share results if things don't last. At this point though,
I think worst case scenario would mean replacing the tenors, but not if
they continue to sound this good.

 

And of course no one else will likely ever have repeat this experiment,
because all of you keep the entire contents of your inventory fecklessly
stored in your photographic memories...right down to the sizes of your
Lo-Torque tuning-pins, eh Jim? ;>) 

 

best regards,

Mark Cramer,

Brandon University

 

 

PS In case anyone missed it, the strings were made for an older Baldwin
with traditional hitch-pins (3-4mm diam) and the loops are (were) too
small for the newer Accujust hitch pins (about 7mm diam).

 

 

 

    

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

	-----Original Message-----
	From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org]On
Behalf Of Wimblees at aol.com
	Sent: Thursday, August 16, 2007 5:57 PM
	To: caut at ptg.org
	Subject: Re: [CAUT] Dead (New) bass strings

	In a message dated 8/16/07 12:37:12 P.M. Hawaiian Standard Time,
jim_busby at byu.edu writes:

		Hi Wim,

		 

		The straight set wasn't wrapped and the color was a bit
darker than the older wrapped set. Both fairly dead.  

		 

		Regards,

		Jim

	It's the darker color that's a sign that something invaded the
coils of the string. How it gets that way is a question left to
metallurgists.

	 

	Wim 

	 

	
	
	

	
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