I've done this many times, David. It helps a ton. But I'm also puzzled why this would happen on a new piano. would the felt be a problem, or poor agraffes? Have they changed the agraffe composition? what would make them "sticky"? Poor string quality? It's a bit strange to break at the pin. Correction; Very strange to break at the pin, if not the becket. Sort of like my harpsichord I recently posted about. I'm very interested in hearing the reason! The physics might be related. Definately call Kent Webb on this one! Paul From: "David Love" <davidlovepianos at comcast.net> To: <caut at ptg.org> Date: 01/31/2011 02:50 PM Subject: Re: [CAUT] String breakage In spite of the fact that it's not an old clunker I would have to agree that I would be suspicious of the friction issue between the tuning pin and the agraffe, which means that counterbearing felt. I would lube the felt and string with Protek as advised and employ a hammer method that doesn't cause the pitch to rise above the target pitch to insure that the tension in the first segment is not raised beyond what is necessary to raise the pitch. David Love www.davidlovepianos.com -----Original Message----- From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Sam Whitmire Sent: Monday, January 31, 2011 11:00 AM To: caut at ptg.org Subject: Re: [CAUT] String breakage It's where the string meets the pin (not the becket... because I remember taking the sting off the pin to splice) And Brent, wish it were as easy as putting protek on the felt, but this is not one of those old clunkers that has been sitting in an humid climate for years. I did call Steinway to ask them if they were having any issues in this area and they thanked me for letting them know about the problem and told me to have a nice day. So I proceeded to have a nice day! They were really no help... but I shall try again. Thanks for the suggestions Sam On Jan 31, 2011, at 10:33 AM, Don Mannino wrote: > Where the string meets the pin? Or at the becket bent? > > I would certainly call Kent Webb at Steinway with the serial number, in case he has some input into the matter. > > Don Mannino > > -----Original Message----- > From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Sam Whitmire > Sent: Sunday, January 30, 2011 2:19 PM > To: caut at ptg.org > Subject: [CAUT] String breakage > > I am taking care of a Steinway D at McNeese State in southwest Louisiana. > It's a brand new piano bought from a dealer in Houston. Got it up to pitch with no problems, then it was moved to the new stage in a brand new auditorium. > Stored in a ventilated "box" (no humidity control.. or damp-chaser installed). I tuned it for the first time in the new hall at the beginning of the fall semester after it sat in it's box all summer. It was only 4-5 cents flat throughout and proceeded to pitch raise. We all know how wonderful it is to sit in front of a new instrument like this and see what we can get out of it... well I got three broken strings (all 19 gauge), broken @ the pin like a new tuner with bad technic. > Tied them all for the concert, called the dealer, replaced the wire and... came back in Jan. to tune for the first spring concert and broke one 20 gauge wire. > Needles to say, I'm a little afraid to tune this piano. The piano other wise is very stable and with a little voicing sounds great. > I have been a RPT for almost 30 years and have never experienced this kind of breakage before! > Any ideas... or am I just getting old and tired? > Thanks > Sam Whitmire > > > Sam Whitmire > http://www.samwhitmire.com > > > > Sam Whitmire http://www.samwhitmire.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://ptg.org/pipermail/caut.php/attachments/20110131/3ac29603/attachment.htm>
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