[CAUT] Pure Sound Wire

[Joe Goss]

Hi Peter,
The best reason that comes to mind is that until recently rescaling of the 
piano was hit or miss. Now with all the computer stuff we should get better 
results or at least the ones we are trying to get.
Joe Goss BSMusEd MMusEd RPT
imatunr at srvinet.com
www.mothergoosetools.com
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Peter Sumner" <petersumner at mac.com>
To: <caut at ptg.org>
Sent: Monday, May 10, 2010 9:38 AM
Subject: Re: [CAUT] Pure Sound Wire


>I guess I'm wondering why folks are experimenting?
> Isn't it the responsibility of technicians to follow established working 
> procedures....?...especially in an institution where budgets are limited, 
> the work load horrendous and where enthusiasm sometimes trumps technical 
> abilities.
>
> Mapes produce music wire for all kinds of applications including most of 
> the guitar strings sold in various coloured packets and brands.
>
> What is wrong with restringing with the wire the factory used in the first 
> place...?
>
> A fundamental question may be this...
>
> Do Institutional Techs feel that their work place is a laboratory?....
>
> Forgive my naivety here....I am merely a tech on the road, without a shop 
> and a budget...doing occasional Institutional work when I'm asked for 
> advice or to help out in some way.....
>
> I'm sure someone here can straighten me out....?
>
> New kid on the block Peter Sumner
>
>
>
>
> On May 10, 2010, at 7:27 AM, Adkins, Richard wrote:
>
>> Friends,
>>
>> I used it on an L according to the scale provided two years ago.
>>
>> The tone was sweeter, if not as strong, and the attack was really nice. 
>> The best attack
>> I've heard from strings. This might be because they are softer wire.
>>
>> I only had one string break at the hitch pin, which I replaced and the
>> others held, UNTIL this year, second term, when they began breaking from 
>> about A4 up through C6 I believe.
>>
>>  Mostly the 16.5, 16s, but I did have some 15 1/2s, 17s, and an 18 break 
>> too.
>>
>> I reported this to Carlos, the developer, and he called me from Amsterdam 
>> to discuss this.
>> We spoke at some length. Needless to say, he was very upset to hear this.
>>
>> He claims that the string is softer and tends to wrap around the bearing 
>> points, so you
>> must first lower tension (back off) before tuning. He says that since 
>> he's altered his approach
>> to tuning the pure sound wire he's not had any breaking strings.
>>
>> Try it and see,I'm going to. He kindly sent me replacement wire at his 
>> expense for my trouble.
>>
>> I have replaced most of the pure sound wire w/Mapes.
>>
>> I agree, I regularly tune pianos with strings atleast 50 if not 100 years 
>> old
>> that have not broken in all that time!
>>
>> I wanted to stainless steel wire to eliminate the rust problem. Well, I 
>> probably
>> did eliminate the rust problem with it, but got a breakage problem 
>> instead.
>>
>> When you install the wire, you must wind the coils slowly, and also make 
>> your hitch
>> ends slowly. He advises that you put some lube on the hitch pins, and 
>> perhaps a pin point
>> at the agraffes or bridge pins. I had lubed the hitch pins, but not the 
>> bridge or agraffes.
>> You can also lube the capo on the non speaking side, and any bearing 
>> points between
>> the tuning pin and the capo. This "should" minimize breaking.
>>
>> I don't mind replacing one or two occassionaly, but whole sections are 
>> just too much.
>>
>> Juan says this wire/scaling was made for pianos with a very "short 
>> scale". I don't
>> know what kind of scale the B has.
>>
>> Even the new B's sound weird at the break from note #20 and 21,22.
>>
>> It's been a great experiment, but really upset me when they began to pop 
>> left and right,
>> and over night! Hope Juan's techniques will prevent any more. I won't be 
>> using that
>> wire again, until I can verify the new approach works. I'd like to do a 
>> Steinway S
>> that is very rusty with it. Maybe just Mapes will have to do.
>>
>> YMMV....!
>>
>> Cheers
>>
>> Richard Adkins
>> Coe College
>>
>>
>