[pianotech] Bass string maker problem

[Encore Pianos]

I haven't charted the speaking lengths (or other lengths) required, but that
seems like a good idea - I know my brain can go on auto pilot even as I am
checking - I need something to check the checker.  I drop everything into an
Excel spreadsheet, so that should be easy enough to do.  Thanks. 

I didn't know the differences  between makers, they have never told me, I
just have always assumed the back of the hitch pin.  I already provide the
hitch pin size to the maker.  

Will

-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Ron Nossaman
Sent: Thursday, January 17, 2013 10:06 AM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Bass string maker problem

On 1/17/2013 4:16 AM, Encore Pianos wrote:
> My experience also.  Last set was perfect, except for one string.  I 
> checked my measurements for that string.  Oops!

That's the one. Checking all measurements three or more times from both
directions usually catches those for me, but then one day it's surprise
time. I even use a simple little spreadsheet input form that I measure hitch
to bridge pin and hitch to agraffe with the speaking length calculated as
the difference. So when I look at bichord pairs and see a 5mm difference in
speaking lengths, which is my typical screw up, I have an easy cross check.
That doesn't help on monochords, but I'll take whatever help I can get.
Charting speaking lengths is a quick and easy visual indicator of suspicious
discontinuities too.

You probably already know this, but though it's functionally a non-event for
the small distances involved, different string makers handle the hitch
differently. One will use the back of the pin, and another the center, and
their respective supplied measuring tapes read differently as a result. So
they need to know hitch size as well. Seems overly complicated to me when
the back of the hitch pin is where the loop seats in all cases regardless of
hitch size, but that's the way it is. They also handle elongation a little
or a lot differently. Some not at all.
Ron N