Harpsichord string breakage

[Avery Todd]

Fred,

   They're all breaking at the pin. These tuning pins are the same
"type" of pin as pianos have. Yes, they do have the becket.
   I don't _think_ I'm letting any cross over during the coiling
and at the bottom of the coil, they spread out toward the bottom of
the pin in order to have some bearing when the string crosses the bridge.

>	Where is it breaking? Do tuning pins have beckets? Are you "crossing
>over" a bit of vertically placed string when making the coil?
>	Not having details, my first guess would be breaking at the pin due
>to additional stress caused by wire crossing over wire, creating a kink
>just where the stress is highest. Brass wire is particularly prone to
>this problem. Solution if there is a becket is simply not to cross wire
>(unnecessary if you have enough coils). Without becket, don't allow the
>final coil to cross, either cutting or prying the last bit outward.
>(Hope that makes sense).

   See my reply to John about this.
   Thanks for the reply. I'll definitely pay even closer attention to
that possibility now.

Avery

>	In a pinch, use next smaller diameter wire.
>Fred Sturm
>University of New Mexico
>
>Avery Todd wrote:
>>
>> List,
>>
>>    I have our Martin harpsichord in the shop right
>> now to replace some broken strings. I've replaced
>> one 8' and one 4' succesfully. My problem is that
>> another 4' keeps breaking just as I get it to pitch.
>> The keyboard is in the correct position and the
>> wire is the correct one, all according to the scale
>> sheet that came with it.
>>    It's a .28 mm yellow wire. So was the other 4'
>> and I had no problem. Three have broken already and
>> I only have one left until we reorder. There might
>> be some the same size in our Phillips harpsichord
>> supply but I haven't checked that yet.
>>    There are still 2 other strings besides this one,
>> to replace. I've replaced quite a few strings over
>> the years and have never had this problem before.
>>    Any ideas what I might be doing wrong? I'm about
>> ready to call in a "real" harpsichord technician.
>>    Happy Thanksgiving all.
>>
>> Avery