Rendering, et al

[Newton Hunt]

Jim H, et al,

This is one of those situations where lice chasing is in order and a
little trying to find a solution to the problem will make everyone
happy, maybe.

I would suggest trying;

   Pick a particularly egregious offender in the easily accessible
hitch and bridge pin area.

   Remove a string from its tuning pins and pull enough through so you
can thoroughly inspect then use a metal polish, specifically Flitz, to
clean and polish the strings where it goes through the agraffe and
moves across the felt.  This will eliminate friction as a factor even
though this is not an option for the piano as a whole.  This is for
information only.

   While removed check the condition of the wire as to bends, kinks,
nicks, striations, etching, out of roundness, possibilities of die
chatter, corrosion at felt and wire interface, die scratches and other
possible contributors.

   Have a careful look at the agraffe, as much as possible with the
wire still in it, inspect the felt for roughness, hardness, cuts,
discoloration, excessive smoothness, grit of any kind, 

   Replace the string on it's pins and tuning it up.  Wait for our
five tunings to see it the problem is still there or returns.  Keep
careful notes of all observations, insights, thoughts, ideas and
reoccurring nightmares and remembered dirty jokes.

I don't know who lubricious Protek is under small point high stress
situations but we do know about such materials as white lithium
grease, mulibinum disulfide and a few other high tech materials.  If
the problem reoccurs I would do the same thing to another string and
smear a microscopic film and the bearing areas and replace the string
and wait several tunings to evaluate the results.

By this time you will have enough information to determine if the
problem is with the wire or the termination points.

By this time you should have enough information and evidence (you
might consider using a miniature tape recorder to get audible evidence
of before and after (since this is a hall high quality equipment
should be in place already)) to approach the owner, dealer and
manufacturer of your observations and results.

You are the purveyor of bad news but this is NOT your problem,
professionally, but you might get a restringing job out of your work.

Good hunt(ing).

		Newton