string covers

[David ilvedson]

> Date:          Wed, 14 Aug 1996 23:56:53 +0000
> From:          Greg & Mary Ellen Newell <gnewell@en.com>
> Subject:       string covers
> To:            pianotech <pianotech@byu.edu>
> Reply-to:      pianotech@byu.edu

> Hello List,
> 	Lately my wife and I are tying to put together an offer to a local
> music school to install string covers on their grands. I have seen
> some of the products available and while some are very good, they are
> quite expensive. Others I have seen I would not use at all as they
> seem to have caused rust. My question to this distinguished panel of
> judges, <G>, is what would you consider the best material to use?
> 	It seems to me that a string cover has at least 3 functions.
> 		1. to protect the belly of the piano from foreign objects
> 		2. to keep it clean
> 		3. to NOT trap moisture within
> It is this last function that I'm most concerned with as any cloth
> will accomplish the first two items. I feel that synthetic fabrics
> are inheirantly unsuitable as they will all, to the best of my
> knowledge, repel or trap moisture to varying degrees once any
> moisture/humdity gets under it. Cotton seems to be unsuitable as well
> because it would actually wick the moisture out of the air ... I
> think. My own personal opinion is that I should look for 100% wool
> felt as it breathes better than any other fabric. Will it be strong
> enough? The customer may want to shake the dust out at some point and
> it would be embarassing to have it fall apart from something like
> that.
> 	This may lead to much more than 1 music school so your comments,
> observances, food for thought will be much appreciated and anxiously
> awaited. Did I leave out anything? Thanks
> 				Greg
> Greg & Mary Ellen Newell
> gnewell@en.com
> dt945@cleveland.freenet.edu
> gnewell@juno.com
>
>
I'm sure most of us have come across the string covers from long
ago that had ring holes in them and were stretched across the
plate via bent nails attached to the inner case.  These were all
made of wool.  I remember opening to tune a 1920's Steinway and
finding a plate, soundboard etc. looking brand new.  They work!
Judy Edwards makes some nice covers...
David ilvedson, RPT
Pacifica, CA