String Breakage

[Thomas D. Seay, III]

>I service a Yamaha grand, G1-J, at an apostolic church.  It has suffered
>several broken bass strings.  In the past I have replaced strings nos.
>11,13,18,20,21,25,30,31,34,and 35, and there may be more.
>
>Of course, strings break on this piano when the pianist cannot contain
>herself (all of the pianists are female and weigh about 97 lbs.).
>
>I think what happens is that when the dampers are raised and the string
>is at the top of its vibration envelope another hard blow comes along and
>drives the string even higher.  Breakage is the result.  Am I correct?
>
>I have increased the let off to reduce power and I have recommended that
>the sustain pedal be disconnected and showed the minister how to do it.
>
>Any other suggestions?
>
>Fred
>
>------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>Fred W. Tremper, RPT
>Morehead State University
>Morehead, KY 40351
>f.trempe@morehead-st.edu

Fred,

You can also set the checking just high enough so that the tail of the
hammer drags SLIGHTLY on the backcheck on a hard blow. This will also
reduce the power of the action considerably.

It seems a shame to me that we technicians have to resort to these sorts of
things in order to prevent total destruction of a piano, but what other
choice do we have?

Tom Seay
mailto:t.seay@mail.utexas.edu