Bass string revival

[Richard Moody]

Of course "rolling the bass strings" or twisting them is the
traditional remedy.  One time I watched my teacher at a player
piano where the bottom pump bellows prevented getting to the hitch
pins.  He simply lowered the string completely slack then pulled
it up while "pounding" and the improvement was dramatic.
    He had taught me the "rolling" method so the next time I
rolled the strings I compared simply lowering and pulling back to
rolling.   Rolling was better but not that much better at least
for the effort involved.  If the piano is in the shop I would roll
the bass after I let them set limp for a few days or weeks.  (For
the imaginary reason that the soundboard might "breathe" a little
bit)  On site though it only takes 10 to 20 minutes longer to let
them down and pull them right back up.  I charge for the extra
time.   This is best done during a pitch raise when the customer
should be calling you back in 30 days to 6 months since the tuning
after letting them down is less stable.           -----rm

     "Time is at once the most valuable
         and the most perishable of all our possessions."
        John Randolph (1773-1833); US political leader.


----- Original Message -----
From: Joel Jones <jajones2@facstaff.wisc.edu>
To: Pianotech <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Friday, May 09, 2003 9:30 PM
Subject: Bass string revival


> List,
>
> Bass strings had coffee or soda spilled on them several years
ago and they
> were dead as a stone.  No money for replacements.  Becoming
frustrated
> listening for a pitch I decided to try a final fix.
>
>     I began by pounding the key and lowering each string about
1/2 turn
> until it was slack.  Continuing to test blow the key a dozen
times while
> slack and continuing pounding I then pulled the string up to
pitch.
>
>     Presto the string had a live, full sound.   However, I'm
wondering:
>
>  1.  What happened to the string to cause it to revive???
>
> 2.   Will this be a short term fix and the strings become dead a
gain???
>
> Anybody experienced this bass string revival?
>
> Joel Jones
> Retired UW tech in Madison
> --
>
>
>
>
>
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