Replacing Bass strings w/o treble

[Joseph Garrett]

A recent post stated that the tech was replacing the bass strings and a few
broken treble strings, per the client's request. (Big Sigh!) I know the
client requested it be done this way, BUT are we really doing the best thing
for the customer and the piano, by avoiding the replacement of the treble
wire? I think not. It would be better to tell the client to wait until the
monies are available for a complete restringing, rather then have a, still,
off balanced piano, that WILL break more of the treble strings, down the
road. New bass strings are unstable. New, random replacements, will be
unstable. Which leaves a customer with a really goofy sounding piano, most
of the time. :-(
While I'm at it, please avail yourselves of the technology of Evaluating the
scale and make appropriate changes to enhance the scale. Do Not Trust the
big guy string makers to make the strings properly. They Don't! (And, IMHO,
could care less!) After all, they don't have to "live" with their
ineptitude. Yes, there are a few string makers that offer "Re-scaling" of
the bass strings service. This, too, IMHO, is wrong. If, all of the entire
scale data is not available to the "Re-scaler", then, you will not have a
ghost of a chance of having a BALANCED scale. All of the data MUST be taken
into account if you are to achieve a decent "Re-Scale".
Another advantage of doing a PROPER Scale Evaluation, is that you can
evaluate the scale at the "Olde" pitch standard, of the time of the piano,
and then RE-scale it to allow the designed tension at A=440! Ooh! My!
There's a CONCEPT! (tongue in cheek).
Just my take on a bad situation. (Flame suit zipped up tight!)
Best Regards,
Joe Garrett, RPT, (Oregon)