[pianotech] Story&Clark Bass String problem

[Randy]

Hi Paul,
In cases where the coils overlap, I loosen the coil enough so that with a string hook and a small blade screwdriver I work the coils over each other and stack the coil from the becket hole out towards the top of the pin.  I don't have to completely unwind the coil.  Usually about 1 full turn counterclockwise is enough tugging the lower coil over its neighbors as it unwinds.

Randy Mangus,RPT

-----Original Message-----
From: Dempsey Jr., Paul E <dempsey at marshall.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, November 09, 2010 11:20 AM
To: pianotech at ptg.org <pianotech at ptg.org>
Cc: caut at ptg.org <caut at ptg.org>
Subject: [pianotech] Story&Clark Bass String problem

Greetings one and all,

Here is a problem that I have run across many times on Story and Clark verticals (and other makes as well) that I have always meant to run past the list but never got around to, and don't recall any other mention of it on the list.

The bottom row of pins in the bass section, nearest the string rest, will have coils that the string will overlap its neighbor. If a bass string is going to break it will invariably be on one of these funky coils.

I generally will let down the tension, pry the becket out of the pin, remove the coil, and either back out the pin several turns ( not satisfactory)  or install a longer pin altogether, reinstall the coil and re-tension.

This increases the distance between the coil and the plate and decreases the angle of the string as it comes off the pin toward the string rest.

That's what I do. What say you?


Paul E. Dempsey, RPT
Piano Technician Sr.
Marshall University
Huntington, WV
304-696-5418
304-617-1149