At 17:09 18/09/01 -0400, Farrell wrote: >It's modern and it needs stringing with proper cast steel wire. Bechstein >is a maker, like Steinway, who never went for very high tensions. > >***** On what basis do you make this statement? Why does it need proper cast >steel wire? Because unless they can provide evidence that the stainless wire has the same tensile strength as cast steel piano wire, your strings will break, especially in the high treble. The chromium content in the ss probably means the wire will have a slightly higher specific gravity than steel wire, _maybe_ enough to require the use of half a gauge thinner wire to achieve the original tensions, provided the wire will stand these to start with. If you need to reduce the tension drastically to bring the strings within the limits, then you will greatly affect the output of the piano in addition to the altered tone you will get from the ss wire anyway. Others have mentioned other possible drawbacks with regard to friction, which ought to be considered, but the main thing is to establish that the wire will be working within a proper tensile range, say no more than 55% of the breaking strains they give you. I'd also make sure to talk to someone who has actually strung a modern piano with this wire. JD
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