String wire gagues in Japanese pianos

[John Ross]

Hi Robin,
Some pianos use metric sizes, which don't match exactly in all cases, the
American Gauge strings.
Regards,
John M. Ross
Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada
jrpiano@win.eastlink.ca
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Robin Olson" <DCrpt@comcast.net>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Wednesday, June 11, 2003 7:09 PM
Subject: String wire gagues in Japanese pianos


>
>
>      I overheard a conversation recently at a Guild meeting that has
> me wondering about a few things.What I heard was that American and
> Japanese wire sizes are different.Meaning that if a Kawai has 15 gague
> marked on the bridge(or plate)you should put 14.5 gague American wire
> to match the string you are replaceing.I usually use a micrometer when
> replaceing strings so I haven't paid much attention to the written
> guage markings.I worked on a Boston today that had a broken string in
> the upper treble.I mic'ed it and it measured 15 gague which was what
> was marked on the bridge.When I got it up to tension,the string level
> was not correct.When testing the hammer to string fit,the two lengths
> that were replaced were blocking on the hammer,but the original string
> was ringing.I am thinking now that the tech before me replaced the
> same string without checking it on the micrometer.I guess I failed to
> mention that the same string had broken about three years ago(Same
> situation where the owner reports the string broke while playing).
>     What puzzles me is that I have worked for a Kawai dealer for over
> twenty years,and have never heard of any problem with wire sizes.But
> it is clear to me that the problem with string breakage on the Boston
> I saw today is due to the wrong size wire being replaced.
>      Any thoughts?            Robin Olson RPT
>
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