[CAUT] Breaking bass strings on C-3

[Otto Keyes]

I have customer who has a 3 1/2 yr. old C-3 that has been breaking bass
strings.  In fact, it has become a common occurence, with about 7 gone
so far, but no treble string breakage at all.  The son is a student at
the U of Idaho, and practices about 4-5 hours a day.  The situation
seems rather unusual, so I suggested he contact Yamaha.  The jist of the
response he got was that the piano is probably played very heavily, is
out of regulation, and has poor voicing, none of which is the case.  The
piano was somewhat bright, but not excessively so for a Yamaha. 
Regulation is decent, though could use a bit of refinement.  And 4-5
hours/day is not heavy use for a C-3.  

He is a strong player and is studying with Steven Spooner, who is a very
powerful player, but certainly not abusive to a piano.  I am sure that
Steve would correct any technique that would harm the instrument.  I
also find it unusual that no treble strings have broken, if he were
indeed, pounding the piano.  My feeling is that we somehow have a bad
batch of bass strings, or some freak scaling issue here.

By the way, the piano moved up to Idaho from California last summer, but
the breakage had already started in California, so it's not an
environment issue.  Also, most of the breakage has occured at the
agraffe. but the last one broke at the bridge pin.  All have been bichords.

Any ideas for me?

Thanks,

Otto