How to avoid breaking a string...

[Thomas Cole]

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Doug,

First of all, repeat after me: "The string broke, I did not break the 
string." Say this 220 times :-)

A piano which hasn't been tuned in a long time may develop a rust spot 
at one or more of the upper bearing points. If you pull up on a string 
which has such a "rust bond", the speaking length will not tighten up at 
first and all of the added tension will be applied to the tuning pin 
segment. This will cause the tension to increase very quickly in this 
area and a string can easily break. That's why it's important to listen 
for or watch for a change of pitch as soon as you know the tuning pin is 
moving.

When I was learning to tune, my mentor cautioned me to paint Liquid 
Wrench on the V-bar and pressure bar points of these neglected pianos 
and to drop the pitch first before pulling it up (he would drop it by a 
fourth or even a fifth). Since then, I've learned more subtle ways of 
getting the string to move and "self-lubricate" and also have become 
more sensitive to when I run up against a snag, if you will, which is 
going to trigger a break. This is a sign that you might have better luck 
if you got a run at it from a lower pitch (and, yes, maybe use a 
lubricant, too).

There are other reasons for a string to "tear" and I don't think there 
is any stopping that from happening, such as a nick in the wire, or work 
hardening at the tuning pin or V-bar/agraffe. Sometimes we can be 
surprised by a tuning pin which is suddenly very loose and, therefore, 
prone to string overtightening, or string terminations at the tuning 
pins which are out of order.

I didn't mention the one where the tuner puts a wrench on one pin and 
listens to another. This is like when you're in the china shop: if you 
break it, you've bought it.

In situations where I have the sense that this piano could break 
strings, I do speak to the customer about the possibility of colateral 
damage. I also tell them that I'll do everything in my power to prevent 
that from happening. And if the budget can't take any broken string 
charges, this may be a time to speak about tuning to a lower pitch.

Tom Cole

Doug Renz Piano Tuning wrote:

> Tonight I went to tune a piano that had not been tuned in 20 years the 
> owner said.
>
>  
>
> While tuning it I broke one of the bass strings... First time. I 
> thought that was interesting.
>
>  
>
> I still have to learn how to "warn" customers when to tell them a 
> string might break.
>
>  
>
> How did that happen? Was it because it has been so long since a 
> tuning? What could
>
> I have done to avoid that? Any thoughts. Thanks in advanced.
>
>  
>
> Thanks.
>
> Doug Renz
>
> Rochester, NY
>
> Associate PTG Member
>
> pianotuner@frontiernet.net <mailto:pianotuner@frontiernet.net>
>
>  
>

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