Universal Bass String question

[Dean May]

Terry wrote:

John's method may work fine - I've never tried it, but I will next time.
What I do is apply vice grips like I described above (not so tight as to
deform the copper windings), unwind the few inches like John said. But then
I pull the copper winding straight off the string - straight out parallel
and on the same line as the core. If you play around with this a few times,
suddenly you will find that you can induce this totally funky revolving
motion of the core (it looks like an airplane propeller in motion in the
shape of a cone) that increases as you pull harder but it lets the copper
unwind extremely easy. I know I'm not describing the motion well - it's
something that you have to experience before you know what I am talking
about. But it makes using universals fun - it's a game I play when I use
them. I know I'm making no sense - but try it - just pull straight out when
you have thin copper windings - the core will automatically go into this
funky motion - it's a hoot!

 

 

 

I use Terry's method as well. First I use diagonal pliers to "cut" where I
want the coils to stop. I do this by squeezing firm enough to cut the copper
but not mark up the steel core and twisting the pliers around the diameter.
This will usually cut the copper, but if not, it weakens it enough so that
when the unwinding happens it will break at that point. Then I start
unwinding off the end until I get the tail a couple of inches long. You can
hold the other end with vice grips, I just lay it on the floor and put my
foot on it. When the tail is about two inches long I stop trying to peel it
off the core, but I continue to rotate it in the direction of unwinding.
You'll get the effect that Terry describes above. The whole winding will
start to turn and loosen till it eventually makes its way down to where
you've cut. When that happens it is loose enough to pull right off the end. 

 

For the hitch pin end you just have to unwind the whole length that needs to
come off. John's method is a good one.

 

Blessings,

 

Dean

  _____  

From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Farrell
Sent: Wednesday, November 01, 2006 6:31 AM
To: Pianotech List
Subject: Re: Universal Bass String question

 

Hi Michelle - I've got a little bit of variations to Johns ideas - just
thought I'd share.

 

First and foremost, cut the string to length (couple inches longer than
hitch-pin to tuning-pin) before unwinding any copper!

 

"Sometimes holding it with a pliers helps to keep the string stationary
while you unwind the excess (Use the pliers above the place where it will
break off.)"

I do the same, only I find that a pair of vice grips gently clamped exactly
just above the place where the coil will break off works great. The copper
wire is thick enough that it unwinds quickly. Using vice grips lets you
concentrate on unwinding the copper.

 

"On the ones with the smaller copper winding, I hold the replacement string
loosely in the left hand, unwind 3-4 inches of the winding, then it's pretty
quick unwinding by pulling with the right hand. (The string in the left hand
rotates as the winding comes off - that's why you hold it loosely.)"

 

John's method may work fine - I've never tried it, but I will next time.
What I do is apply vice grips like I described above (not so tight as to
deform the copper windings), unwind the few inches like John said. But then
I pull the copper winding straight off the string - straight out parallel
and on the same line as the core. If you play around with this a few times,
suddenly you will find that you can induce this totally funky revolving
motion of the core (it looks like an airplane propeller in motion in the
shape of a cone) that increases as you pull harder but it lets the copper
unwind extremely easy. I know I'm not describing the motion well - it's
something that you have to experience before you know what I am talking
about. But it makes using universals fun - it's a game I play when I use
them. I know I'm making no sense - but try it - just pull straight out when
you have thin copper windings - the core will automatically go into this
funky motion - it's a hoot!

 

FWIW

 

Terry Farrell

----- Original Message ----- 

From: Michelle <mailto:michelle at cdaustin.com>  Smith 

To: 'Pianotech <mailto:pianotech at ptg.org>  List' 

Sent: Tuesday, October 31, 2006 9:43 PM

Subject: RE: Universal Bass String question

 

Thanks for the info John.  I guess I'm going to have to grow some more
muscles and get after it.

 

Happy Halloween!

 

Michelle Smith

 

 


  _____  


From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of John M. Formsma
Sent: Tuesday, October 31, 2006 6:41 PM
To: Pianotech List
Subject: Re: Universal Bass String question

 

#5 is a big one, isn't it? I don't know of a way to do it fast except to
unwind it quicker. :) Sometimes holding it with a pliers helps to keep the
string stationary while you unwind the excess (Use the pliers above the
place where it will break off.)

On the ones with the smaller copper winding, I hold the replacement string
loosely in the left hand, unwind 3-4 inches of the winding, then it's pretty
quick unwinding by pulling with the right hand. (The string in the left hand
rotates as the winding comes off - that's why you hold it loosely.)

JF

Michelle Smith wrote: 

Hi all.  Yet another newbie question.

 

Does anyone have an easy/quick way to remove copper winding from universal
bass strings?  I'm practicing on an old spinet here at the house and while I
did cut some of the string off (winding and core), I still had to work for
quite a while to get down to where I needed to be with the winding. (I was
working with a #5 string.) Thanks in advance.

 

Michelle Smith

Smith Piano Service

Bastrop, Texas

(512) 466-0238

michelle at cdaustin.com

 

 

 

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