Friction/Buzz at Agraffes

[Greg Granoff]

Strings popping at the agraffe usually indicate a little ditch worn in the top
of the hole that is hanging the string up until tension increases enough on the
waste side to 'break' it free, which it does with that popping effect. ( I
suspect the buzzing is related to this). The only long term solution is new or
machined agraffes.
The other problem is probably a similar situation -- grooves worn in the capo
bar that cause excessive friction.  Perhaps re-stringing and capo polishing is
in order?
Greg
Humboldt State University

Ray Bentley wrote:

> Has anyone else found strings to buzz at the agraffe?  I have a piano that
> seems to.  I can usually stop the buzz by raising and lowering the pitch,
> thereby moving the string back and forth through the agraffe.  These strings
> also pop loose at the agraffe during tuning.  It doesn't seem to matter how
> long it has been since the previous tuning, they still pop during tuning.
> Has anyone tried clp or something else there with success.  Also there are a
> few pianos that don't render well.  That is, the friction at the capo bar is
> such that when you pull a string up, it continues to raise with firm blows,
> and vice versa.  Any cure for this?
>
> Thanks to all.
>
> Ray T. Bentley, RPT
> Lewis and Clark Community College
> Godfrey, IL