Unstringable C8, was Steinway 78183

[Greg Graham]

Les, 

Did you measure the speaking length?  

Dear fellow listers: What is the "normal" speaking length for C8 in a Steinway S?

Amazing coincidence.  I was working on a Steinway S, s/n 48xxxx, last week which was missing the top shared string of C8.  I replaced it with no. 13 wire, and it broke at about A#7 in pitch while pulling it up.  So, assuming it was me, I tried it again.  Bang!  Broke at the V-bar.  

I shoe-shined the v-bar to remove grooves and tried again.  Bang!  Broke at the v-bar. 

I tried no. 12.5 wire, with graphite at the bearing points.  Bang!  This time at the bearing between the tuning pin and the v-bar.

I tried no. 12 wire.  With squinty eyes and going very slowly, I pulled it up to within about 20 cents of C8 and the pitch stopped rising even though I was moving the pin.  So I left it flat.  

John Travis' "A Guide to Restringing" shows 12.5 wire for B7 and C8 for an S.  The plate of this 20 year old, factory original S is clearly marked 13.  

The C8 speaking length on this one is 2.5 inches.  I checked a few other pianos in the vicinity, including a S&S D, and found 2 inches for no. 13 wire at C8.  

The v-bar on this S curves down visibly at the right end, which appears to increase the wire angles on both sides of the v-bar, getting worse as you go from about A7 to C8.  The left string of C8 is holding at pitch, but had been replaced by someone else earlier.  

I don't know if it is just too long a speaking length, or too much string angle, or a combination.  I only know it doesn't work as is.  

Any suggestions?    

Greg Graham


> ------------------------------
> Date: Mon, 06 Oct 2008 18:16:39 -0500
> From: Leslie Bartlett <l-bartlett at sbcglobal.net>
> Subject: Steinway 78183

> A little help please.  Today I attempted to tune the above mentioned 
> piano. When i arrived the highest string on B7 and the first strand on 
> C7 were missing.  As I moved up through B7 to the remaining strands of 
> C8, the two remaining strands were at least 500 cents low.  I slowly 
> pulled them up, and the string broke at about A7. ...

> #13 wire was specified on the plate as going down to D7....

> However help me please- I think the gauge of the wire was just to large 
> at B7/C8. Can anyone give me sage advice.   
> 
> Thanks
> les bartlett
> houston
> 
>