String Breakage

[Ted Simmons]

Hi Fred,
Let me give you a synopsis of my experiences with broken strings.  Church
#1 called me to tune their piano.  I found 2 broken bass strings and
replaced them.  6 months later there were 2 more broken strings. Ditto
another 6 months later.  Then suddenly for a couple of years there were no
broken strings.  Church #2 bought a new piano and I tuned it 3 times the
first year of its life without incident.  Then all of a sudden strings were
breaking.  At one of Church #1's tunings I inquired as to why there were no
more broken strings.  The answer I got was that they have a new piano
player.  I asked where the other piano player went and he said "to Church
#2".

Along a more technical line I've heard of adjusting the damper lift so that
the dampers rise above the strings about 1/16 inch or so.  That way if the
string excursions are too great the dampers will suppress them. I haven't
tried this myself but it might be worth a try.

Ted Simmons
Merritt Island, FL

>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
>------------------------------------------------------------------------------