[CAUT] String breakage

[David Love]

In spite of the fact that it's not an old clunker I would have to agree that
I would be suspicious of the friction issue between the tuning pin and the
agraffe, which means that counterbearing felt.  I would lube the felt and
string with Protek as advised and employ a hammer method that doesn't cause
the pitch to rise above the target pitch to insure that the tension in the
first segment is not raised beyond what is necessary to raise the pitch.    

David Love
www.davidlovepianos.com


-----Original Message-----
From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Sam
Whitmire
Sent: Monday, January 31, 2011 11:00 AM
To: caut at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [CAUT] String breakage

It's where the string meets the pin (not the becket... because I remember
taking the sting off the pin to splice)
And Brent, wish it were as easy as putting protek on the felt, but this is
not one of those old clunkers that has been sitting in an
humid climate for years. I did call Steinway to ask them if they were having
any issues in this area and they thanked me for letting them know
about the problem and told me to have a nice day. So I proceeded to have a
nice day!   They were really no help... but I shall try again.

Thanks for the suggestions
Sam
On Jan 31, 2011, at 10:33 AM, Don Mannino wrote:

> Where the string meets the pin?  Or at the becket bent?
> 
> I would certainly call Kent Webb at Steinway with the serial number, in
case he has some input into the matter.
> 
> Don Mannino
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Sam
Whitmire
> Sent: Sunday, January 30, 2011 2:19 PM
> To: caut at ptg.org
> Subject: [CAUT] String breakage
> 
> I am taking care of a Steinway D at McNeese State in southwest Louisiana. 
> It's a brand new piano bought from a dealer in Houston. Got it up to pitch
with no problems, then it was moved to the new stage in a brand new
auditorium.
> Stored in a ventilated "box" (no humidity control.. or damp-chaser
installed).  I tuned it for the first time in the new hall at the beginning
of the fall semester after it sat in it's box all summer.  It was only 4-5
cents flat throughout  and proceeded to pitch raise.  We all know how
wonderful it is to sit in front of a new instrument like this and see what
we can get out of it... well I got three broken strings (all 19 gauge),
broken @ the pin like a new tuner with bad technic.
> Tied them all for the concert, called the dealer, replaced the wire and...
came back in Jan. to tune for the first spring concert and broke one 20
gauge wire.
> Needles to say, I'm a little afraid to tune this piano. The piano other
wise is very stable and with a little voicing sounds great. 
> I have been a RPT for almost 30 years and have never experienced this kind
of breakage before!
> Any ideas... or am I just getting old and tired?
> Thanks
> Sam Whitmire 
> 
> 
> Sam Whitmire
> http://www.samwhitmire.com
> 
> 
> 
> 

Sam Whitmire
http://www.samwhitmire.com