>>The few references I have read on scaling generally give the formulas, >>and talk about a desired tension range of, say, 160-180 pounds. 160 lbs is OK for plain wire (trichords), but bichords should be higher, and monochords higher still. >>But I have learned that trying to stick to this tension in the tenor section >>results in using very heavy wire, which, quite frankly, sounds like crap. That's because as you increase the core wire size, you also increase the inharmonicity, which was already too high. >>I checked a Steinway M in the shop last week, and calculated the tension >>on the lowest wire to be in the area of 120-125 pounds, obviously out >>of the "desired range". If you really want to fix this problem, you'll need to change the 4 lowest plain wire unisons (29-32) to wound bichords. That is the ONLY way you'll be able to get the tension up (to the point where the strings will sound good) while also keeping the inharm down where it wants to be. I have rescaled 2 "M"'s this way succesfully, that is - they had no discernable tonal break from bass to tenor, and they still sounded like "M"'s. >>How can I best determine the wire guage in this section of the piano? >>Are there some "rules of thumb"? Or is there a good book available >>that can help me with this? You need to use a scale design software package, although you can use a spreadsheet if you have the spare time to set one up. The important point is that you be able to view the entire scale at once in order to achieve a smooth transition of tensions and inharmonicities from note to note. If you are a PC user, I sell such a program, as does Tremaine Parsons. If you are a Mac user, then you're out of luck, at least as far as I know. Another option is to use Dave Sanderson (PIANOBIZ@aol.com), who will do the design work as well as fabricate the strings for you. If you do elect to rescale this instrument, be sure to inform the customer that you will be modifiying the string design. Also bear in mind that if you have the original strings "duplicated", chances are that they will NOT be exact duplicates anyway, so either way you will not be using the "original" scale. The chioce is not whether to rescale, but rather who will do the design work! Mark Dierauf visit the WinScale homepage at: http://www.ourworld@compuserve.com/homepages/mdierauf
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