pre stretched strings

[David ilvedson]

> Date:          Fri, 11 Apr 1997 00:06:22 -0500
> From:          Richard Moody <remoody@easnetsd.com>
> Subject:       Re: pre stretched strings
> To:            pianotech@byu.edu
> Reply-to:      pianotech@byu.edu

Pre-stretched wire is old news...Jack Roll in Oakland made it and
sold it some 20 years ago or so.  Sheldon Smith in Berkeley has
all of his equipment for making it and has thought about doing a
technical for the SF Chapter for a long time.  Jack Roll sold it
in coiled tubing and when you took it out it was like rope.  No
coil at all.  The question back then...does it still have the
same tonal quality?  The general consensus was yes!  I believe
Jack stretched the wire with weights but I'm not sure.  Sheldon
knows all about it but is too busy to pull out all the stuff.

ilvey, RPT
Pacifica, CA

> An interesting idea pre-stretched strings.  However the debate is "is
> it stretch or is it bends"? that causes a new piano string to be so
> unstable at first, and then in good 80 old pianos be so bad for
> business.  In "stretching" a new wire with the grooved or roller
> tools, screw drivers or whatever,  there is the risk of damage to the
> notches at the bridge pins., and also of stretching the string
> (especially its bend) beyond its limit of elasticity.    Certainly
> when observing the seating  marks on a bridge with the strings
> removed, a lot of variation can be seen. I wouldn't want to be the
> cause of it, especially those "fan" shaped grooves.  Some one
> mentioned a dent in the bridge pin.  I am wondering since all the
> strings swagger, shouldn't all the pins have a dent?  Or only those
> whose strings got stretched?  I have not looked for that before.
> 	 Any how the theory that it is the bends in the strings that take a
> while to form makes sense to me.  After all if a piano string
> "stretches" how can it do so and not violate the laws of elasticity?
> And look at the bends the wire goes through, at least six, or seven
> if you count the becket.  It would be impossible to prestretch a
> piano string if these bends are the culprit in causing new piano wire
> to go out of tune so fast.
> 	So that is why a tied string is so much more stable in tuning than a
> new string, the bends are already there, at least four of  them.
> Those that have used the same (treble) wire that broke at the pin by
> settling for one and a half turns would know for sure. That's eight
> new bends on pre stretched wire.  And no I don't think that's why
> Steinway used to put four turns on their upper pins, or maybe they
> still do. ; )
> Richard Moody
>
> ----------
> > From: KUANG <v137z2ng@ubvms.cc.buffalo.edu>
> > To: pianotech@byu.edu
> > Cc: pianotech@byu.edu
> > Subject: Re: Tying knots (was Re: lifetime job?)
> > Date: Thursday, April 10, 1997 11:12 AM
> >
> >
> >
>
> > I was thinking if any supply house stock "pre-streched" wire?
> Maybe
> > there's no such thing?  Wouldn't it be very expansive to supply
> those
> > kind of wire?  I know at least one violinist who always put new
> > violin strings on her second violin so whenever she needs new
> strings,
> > the strings would be "ready" to play.
> >
>
>
>