[CAUT] pre-stretching new string?

[Richard Brekne]

In reply to the comments about bending the wire around the bridge 
pin....  I have to agree with Ron N's statement about throwing away the 
string stretcher.  At least if its going to be used to do anything like 
this.  I have never understood the reasoning behind this idea.  It would 
make some sense I suppose if the kink made had something close to a 
static position relative to the bridge pin... but it doesnt really. And 
how is the perceived need for this procedure justified ? There is 
nothing beyond what I guess I'd have to call suspicion behind these 
ideas.  The only reasoning I've read hear and other places that looks at 
any of the mechanics involved really point in the other direction... 
that one is bound to damage the bridge pin hole surface area, that the 
kink will move around anyways, and that the wire will conform to the 
termination all it ever needs to do just by virtue of the tension 
applied to it. 

When I use my string stretcher... its in the middle of the string... and 
I push in a direction away from the bridge pin... not towards it. 

I noticed another little tidbit just the other day pulling up tension on 
the back scale.  That little click noise often heard in new pianos we 
associate with the need to seat strings. I heard the exact same noise 
quite often on an older D. I'm wondering whether or not what we are 
hearing is the string breaking the friction hold and rendering through 
the pins.  I'm also wondering whether or not the perceived benefit has 
more to do with the resultant relative tension levels of the string at 
the three segments involved... speaking length, bridge surface span, and 
backlength.

As far as stretching for stability is concerned.  I do this because I 
notice it works to some degree. But I push away from the bridge pins 
both fore and aft of the bridge. I also squeeze the backlengths of the 
new string together a bit with some wide flat faced nose pliers, and 
squeeze the coil as Ed mentioned.  Regardless however.. I always end up 
needing to pull the string up to pitch again the next day.  I can get a 
string to hold through a concert if I have to... but seems like there is 
no way of getting around the need to come back at the string after a day 
or two.

Cheers
RicB


    In last month's discussion of wire stretch, someone mentioned
    pulling a new
    string a semitone sharp to take care of any future stretch along all its
    segments.

    Is a 'semitone' overpull common practice for new (plain-wire) strings?

    Would you do this as part of a full re-stringing as well, or is this
    just a
    habit when trying to get a new single-string replacement stable?

    I've never done so, but can't see the harm with fresh new wire.
    Anyone want
    to educate me on the subject?

    thanks,
    Mark Cramer
    Brandon University

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