Hey don't be too disparaging of these guys. Music is in the eyes of the beholder. I think it is pretty amazing what some of these self taught guys can do. Besides, they bring us plenty of business! :-) The best way to reduce the string breakage in these Pentecostal churches is to make sure the pianist has his/her own monitor speaker, one of those small ones, right on the music desk, or on stand real close to their ear. They need acoustic feedback on what the piano is doing and they are trying to keep up with all the other amplified instruments, usually as the lead instrument. Dean Dean May cell 812.239.3359 PianoRebuilders.com 812.235.5272 Terre Haute IN 47802 -----Original Message----- From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Ken & Pat Gerler Sent: Thursday, June 18, 2009 9:00 AM To: pianotech at ptg.org Subject: Re: [pianotech] Kawai Electric Breaking Strings Mike, In St. Louis I have a lot of "Pentecostal" type churches with "musicians" who are self-taught and all they know is "banging" on the pianos. Consequently I have a lot of broken strings. The same pianos in "liturgical" churches never have any problems. A number of techs in St. Louis have opted to increase lost motion so their "banging" is not as likely to break strings. I feel that is a dis-service for a "competent" musician who might come to play the instrument. I have been trying to educate them to get training and also add amplification to the pianos with monitors in the ears of the "bangers" so when they blow their ears off, they stop banging. Ken Gerler ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mike Spalding" <mike.spalding1 at verizon.net> To: <pianotech at ptg.org> Sent: Wednesday, June 17, 2009 10:57 AM Subject: Re: [pianotech] Kawai Electric Breaking Strings > Paul, and everyone, > > 1. Thanks to everyone who has replied. I appreciate your knowledge and > willingness to help. In particular, 3 different individuals from Kawai > USA technical service have advised that I can buy original scale > replacements from Mapes. > > 2. The hammers are what they are. When was the last time you sold the > buyer of a $500 used electric piano a shaping, regulation, and voicing > job? > > 3. "Major defect"? No such assumption has been made. My question, for > those experienced in designing bass scales, is whether, based on this > piano's history plus any additional experience you might have with this > model, you would advise designing the missing strings at a % break > strength of 60% like the neighboring strings, or perhaps going a little > lower. > > thanks > > Mike Spalding > > pgmilkie at juno.com wrote: >> Before you go off assuming a major defect you might investigate the >> playing that the piano is getting. If this is like my many abused church >> pianos weekly string breakage is often "normal" and due to heavy >> pounding, not necessarily from an incorrect scale. >> >> >> >> Are the hammers in need of attention. 'heavily grooved, to hard'? >> >> Paul Milkie >> >> ____________________________________________________________ >> Criminal Lawyers - Click here. >> http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/BLSrjpTOVoIvnCS6fxgFqjhJu1pzxWL6 cXuOpXCJFFbkou1mkXRLxNUbUZa/ >> >>
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