[CAUT] pinning

[Keith Roberts]

I had to level strings for my mentor, Dale Erwin. I had never done it
without Joe's string level. (I had introduced the tool to him) so I aked how
it was done without the string level. He said with the finger or eye or
whatever and told me to try. So I did about five or six different methods.
Some technical, some feely. Then I checked with the level and not a one was
close. When I told Dale, he said that was what he found too.

So the best (I think) without the level would be to assume the agraffes are
level and draw the hook along the string from about 2 inches out on up to
the agraffe. Treat each string equal and mate the hammer to the strings.
This seems to bring the strings into a close level. Then you adjust only if
the sound is errant. or the required filing of the head is too much and
indicates uneven strings. The hammer might be the best level yo have if it
is aligned and shaped properly.

Keith Roberts
On Fri, Dec 5, 2008 at 6:39 PM, Mark Dierauf <pianotech at nhpianos.com> wrote:

> This is my current kit. I use Joe Goss's bubble gauge<http://www.mothergoosetools.com/other_tools/string_level.shtml>to check for level. When first setting it on a unison, I slightly depress
> the center string - if the gauge moves, then the center is higher than the
> outside strings. With the center string depressed I can also determine if
> the unison  leans way or the other. Then I use one of the two tools pictured
> to actually move the wire. The top tool<http://www.faulkpiano.com/SpecialtyTools/display.php?id=1>is Charles Faulk's string leveling tool. I find that this works especially
> well in the agraffe section, and will also lower a string that's slightly
> too high. The tool exerts a lot of leverage, so care is needed, but I find
> it very handy. The other tool is what I've seen at the Steinway factory, and
> is easily made from a length of brass rod, a length of piano wire, and a
> leather disk. The tool is placed upright on the unison behind the capo bar
> (on the front bearing felt), and the wire reaches over the capo to hook the
> string near the front termination. Again, the tool exerts a lot of leverage
> so some care is needed. I had previously used the Maninno hook, but found
> that tool prone to slip off the string too easily, something that neither of
> these two tools will do.
>
> - Mark Dierauf
>
>
>
>
> David Ilvedson wrote:
>
> Richard,
>
> Re-reading some old email...how do you level strings?   Everyone has their way of doing this...
>
> David Ilvedson, RPT
> Pacifica, CA  94044
>
> ----- Original message ----------------------------------------
> From: "Richard Brekne" <ricb at pianostemmer.no> <ricb at pianostemmer.no>
> To: caut at ptg.org
> Received: 4/13/2008 11:46:09 AM
> Subject: [CAUT]  pinning
>
>
>
>
> Hi David
>
>
>   I know there are several opinions about how pinning can affect tone
> and/or if it does at all to begin with but my experience tells me that
> as solid a pinning as is possible without compromising the ability of
> the action to play and repeat quickly is a precept for good voicing and
> good projection. Whether it is because the tighter pining causes a more
> solid path and impact moment, and less dispersion of impact energy back
> through the system or not... I really dont know.  I think like many such
> subjects, the actual physics is something we do a lot of guessing at but
> really dont <<know>> much about.  That said... the difference in sound
> and projection is real enough and its one of the things I do very early
> on in any full voicing/regulation beef up I do on an instrument. Like
> hammer mating and unisons being in a level plane.
>
>
>   Cheers
> RicB
>
>
>      I have been having some interesting time with our Hamburg Steinway
>    here at Stanford.  This is 9 years old.   I filed the hammers for
>    the first time...I know, not heavy playing...but I repinned for the
>    2nd time in a year.  Went from 4 grams to 2 grams or so...I decided
>    to repin at 5 to 6 grams.   The tone is projecting (tone above the
>    strings) to beat the band...the combination of careful filing and
>    repinning has, imho, brought the piano back to it's new piano
>    sound...I'd appreciate comment on center pinning/tone and concert
>    instruments...
>
>
>      David Ilvedson, RPT
>
>
>      Pacifica, CA 94044
>
>
>
>
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