"Boinging" strings

[C. Mike Swendsen]

The ususal cause of "boinging" strings is the bridge has rolled under
the offending strings.  Many old uprights have the same problem.  IMHO,
the reason for this happening is that the bridges were turned up (like
the end of a 'J') this allows the bridge to curl or roll nad causes the
soundboard to distort/crack etc. in this region of the piano.  In some
pianos  the bridge was straight or had an apron of sorts to keep this
from happening.
As a quick repair (not the proper kind in which at least the bridge is
rebuilt/replaced,or soundboard and bridge) you might try heavily
lacquering the hammer and then when dry, voicing the heck out of it
again.  You need the hammer heavy enough to help overcome this dead area
of soundboard.  It will never sing properly though until proper repairs
are made. ( of course this is just MHO)
C. Mike Swendsen RPT

> 
> The piano I restrung (the Vogue baby grand I have talked about here before)
> turned out okay except for the first two notes of wire, just above the bass
> strings.  They have a "boinging" sound.  Since the original scaled called
> for 21 gage I thought perhaps substituting 20 gage (thus adding tension)
> would eliminate that problem.  Another tech friend didn't think it would
> help much.  He blamed poor scale design and poor piano design.
> 
> Well, to my horror, my "new" 1922 Steinway M has a similar sound at C#2
> (first of the wire).  It is no where near as bad as the Vogue but now I am
> listening for it and therefore,I am finding it.  My M is also freshly
> restrung.
> 
> Do you know what I am referring to?  Is there a solution?  Is it because the
> heavier gauge wire has to "settle in?"  PLEASE let that be it!
> 
> I tried voicing on the Vogue.  I stabbed those two hammers so much it looked
> like a recreation of the shower scene in Physco.  Didn't help.  When you go
> up the scale it goes "dah -dah -dah -dah -BOING -BOING -dah -dah"  or
> something like that!!  I could record it and attach it as a file  . . . nah.
> 
> HELP!
> 
> Glenn.