[pianotech] Steck/string elongation

[John Ross]

I would think that get it up to pitch first, to see the potential.
Possibly a C/A candidate, that way, it could be evaluated over a longer 
period, before the final decision is made.
John Ross
Windsor, Nova Scotia.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jim Busby" <jim_busby at byu.edu>
To: <joegarrett at earthlink.net>; <pianotech at ptg.org>
Sent: Friday, July 24, 2009 12:59 PM
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Steck/string elongation


All,

Joe's post intrigues me as to the possibilities with this piano. Being the 
king of this kind of work I'll bet he could make it sing! Maybe the catapult 
will have to wait.

I have not heard nor seen the piano yet. The technician that gave me these 
pictures (I have many more) is a young RPT student here who has an 
incredible talent but little experience, and is seeking advice. No matter 
what, I told him HE isn't the one to do it, unless he's taking it on as a 
learning experience and can take all the time necessary to consult with 
those who do have the knowhow. This is a young man that decided to build a 
harpsichord from scratch (No kits or pre-fabbed parts. All hand done) and 
about a year later had a fine instrument and performed with the Mormon Tab 
Choir... And he's a humble, quiet sort. If he's determined to do it I'm 
confident that he will do well.

He says the tone of individual strings, or of one note when it's tuned, is 
quite good. Lot's of sustain, pleasant sound. And remember that while he 
isn't experienced he has a wonderful sense of what a "good" piano sound is.

He said the piano is 100 cents low (+/-50 in compas) and that the owner says 
it won't stay in tune, no matter what technicians have done. You know 
there's always something that can be done (complete rebuild) but according 
to articles that I've read "string elongation" would be a big problem with 
this piano seeing the incredibly long upper section (non speaking) in the 
plain wire. Vince Mrykalo has collected many articles from past journals 
about this wherein people like Klaus Fenner (sp??) said that this is a big 
concern in tuning stability. That this length of waste wire (my words, for 
lack of better ones) between the tuning pin and speaking length is never a 
good thing. This is what struck me in these pictures.

Any thoughts?

Thanks.

JIm Busby

I