univ. bass strings

[Farrell]

I agree with you Dave. I carry a set of universals in my car. I will always
splice when I can. If the splice is not possible, some combination of
smaller, older, crummier pianos with owners who wish to minimize costs will
demand a universal. As the pianos get bigger, newer, nicer (or less bad) and
the owners willingness to pay for a return service call increases, those
folks will get a proper replacement. In many situations I explain the basic
difference between the universal and the proper replacement to the piano
owner and let them decide. At the extremes - with a really horrible old
spinet, I just put in the universal - and with the newer 7-foot Beckendorfer
in the $1,000K+ home, we really only have a conversation about a proper
replacement.

As far as which universal set to use. IMHO, any universal is a compromise -
so forget trying to figure out which universal set is "meant" for what
application - they were not "meant" for any fine piano. I don't strictly
view a universal as a piano string, but rather universals are linear objects
for occupying a space in the scale so that the hammer can hit it and make it
vibrate more-or-less at the desired pitch, and the damper can quiet it when
desired - they prevent the hammer from getting stuck in the gap between to
neighboring strings when an original is missing.

Will a universal replacement sometimes be virtually untunable because of
inappropriate inharmonicity? Sure. But I "tune" numerous "untunable" bass
strings in supposedly "fine" pianos. Nothing going to stand out there. So
certainly a nice cheap odd-ball string will fit right into the typical
little past-its-prime spinet (did most spinets ever have a prime?). And
sometimes they really don't work out all that bad.

I carry the full Schaff #2019 (B-48) series, sizes 1 through 12 (including
half sizes), plus the full #2010 (S-50) series, plus B-48, size 01 from the
#2006 series. With this combination of sets I have diameters 0.051" through
0.212" with no gaps and no duplicates. From these I just pick a wrap
diameter to match. If all the bass strings from the note are missing, I just
pick a size between the neighbors.

Terry Farrell

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dave Nereson" <davner@kaosol.net>
To: "Pianotech" <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Tuesday, January 13, 2004 3:26 AM
Subject: Re: univ. bass strings


>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "pianolover 88" <pianolover88@hotmail.com>
> To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
> Sent: Monday, January 12, 2004 8:13 PM
> Subject: univ. bass strings
>
>
> > I'm replacing two single bass strings in a spinet. I plan to use
> Universals
> > and I'm wondering which of the Schaff partial sets would be the right
> > choice. Number 2019, pg. 78 looks like a good choice, but then again,
> number
> > 2006 strings are the heaviest. I am assuming the #2019, which has more
> > strings already contains these heaviest strings?
> >
> > I would appreciate any recommendations. Again this is for a SPINET and
the
> > strings to be replaced are two single bass, immediately before the first
> > bi-chords.
> >
> > Terry Peterson
>
> Everybody recommended against universals and for duplication, which I
> understand, but sometimes, dang it, ya gotta put something on there right
> now just to get yourself out of the house.  And for that reason I carry
> universals in the car, especially for schools and gospel churches that are
> just gonna break some more strings next week or month.
>     As I understand it,
>     2019 is for spinets, consoles, and smaller uprights and grands
>     2006 is just for the lowest ten or so strings on the above pianos
>
>     2037 is for larger grands, maybe some tall uprights
>     2010 is for the lowest ten or so strings the larger pianos
>
>     You can't determine which length of piano the string is meant for by
the
> length of wrap listed in the catalog (except to make sure it's not too
> short), since some of it will be unwound, either at one or both ends.
> Measure the old strings with a micrometer and use the closest one.  If you
> tighten the wrap at the ends to prevent buzzing, usually they work fine,
and
> in my opinion, are satisfactory for most spinets, old uprights, and the
> cheaper consoles and small grands.   But yes, having the string duplicated
> is better.
>     --David Nereson, RPT
>
>
>
>
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