Restringing

[John DeLuca]

At 06:54 PM 1/16/98 +0000, you wrote:
>Avery Todd wrote:
>
>>    Since treble then bass *is* rather obvious, :-) don't you think John
might
>> have been referring to whether to start stringing in the tenor or the
treble?
>
>Actually Avery, I think he was referring to pulling the tension up in a
manor that
>is not likely to place undue stress on the plate and thus, break it (like the
>scenario Warren found himself in a short while ago.)
>
>OK, now that I've put words in John's mouth, I'll address the issue.  As I
said
>originally - support the pin block.  Driving pins unsupported will virtually
>guarantee damage to the pin block, and probably the plate.  That said
again, I
>would suggest starting at the treble and working left if you are right
handed.
>Start at the tenor and work right if you are left handed.  This assumes
that a
>righty holds the pin/driving tool with his left hand and the maul with his
right,
>vice-versa for a lefty.  This keeps your hand that contacts the plate
resting on
>flat iron rather than tuning pins.  Also, it's easier to keep the wire
straight in
>areas with no agraffes.
>
>Initially, pull all wires up to about an octave low.  This is enough to
keep the
>coils tight and the strings in line with everything, but not enough to
stress the
>plate.  It seems obvious, but like everybody else said, string the
tenor/treble
>first before you put on the bass section.
>
>Before you put any real tension on the strings, make sure all the plate
bolts,
>nose bolts and pin block bolts are tight.  The object is to leave the
plate in the
>piano in one piece.
>
>After all strings are on and its time to chip tune - well, this is the
area where
>we all do it differently.  If its  about an octave low across the
instrument, I
>usually start at the temperament, tuning the middle strings only, and
bring each
>center string up to pitch.  I don't over-pull like a pitch raise, just up
to pitch
>the first time.   Set the temperament (center string only), tune down to
bottom of
>tenor and up to top of treble (center string only).  Go to the bass and
tune 1
>string of each bi-chord, and the mono-chords.
>
>Then back to the tenor/treble, pulling up only one (I start with the left)
string
>of each tri-chord.  Then to bass, pulling up the remaining bi-chords.
Fianlly
>back to tenor/treble pulling up the remaining string of the unison.
>
>By now, you'll probably be about a whole step low or more.  Do it again until
>you're within a half step across the piano.  When you're within a half
step, treat
>it as any other half step pitch raise.
>
>When its at pitch, you can then level the strings and mate the hammers to the
>strings.  (What do you get when you mate a hammer and a string?)  Then you
tune,
>tune, tune.
>
>DISCLAIMER:  This is not presented as "the Right Way" - it is, however,
"My Way."
>I have never broken a plate, cracked a sound board or rolled a bridge off the
>board using this method.  However, when I get through with lunch and go
back out
>to the shop, this afternoon could be the first!
>
>I welcome all suggestions, comments, corrections and criticisms from everyone
>else.
>
>Final note:  EYE PROTECTION and EAR PROTECTION is REQUIRED ! ! ! ! ! !
>
>Danny Moore
>http://www.setexas.com/danmoore/
>
Danny, you hit the nail on the head. I guess I didn't make myself to clear,
but that's the gist of what I was asking. 
Thanx a lot!