<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <html> <head> <META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=us-ascii"> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 10 (filtered)"> <style>  </style> </head> <body bgcolor=white lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=blue> <div class=Section1> Yes.  I had a string fly rearward out of a Boesendorfer Imperial and put a small hole in the wall about six feet behind the piano.  Since then I discourage little kids from peering over the back of the rim while I tune.    <div> David Love davidlovepianos@comcast.net </div> -----Original Message----- From: caut-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of Jeff Olson Sent: Friday, March 24, 2006 10:02 PM To: College and University Technicians Subject: [CAUT] Flight of the Broken Bass Sting? (was:: Adams 1/4 tone sharppiano)   <div> I've broken a lot of grand piano bass strings -- always the string and/or piano's fault, I assure you! -- and must confess to never having observed them flying free of the piano.  I remember one snapping back in my general direction once when the hitch loop snapped, but it never quite made it to my face, strinking (I think) the top of the partly opened lid before that. </div> <div>   </div> <div> On the theory that confession's good for the soul, I suppose I should also admit that I have trouble visualizing a bass string flying free in the manner that seems to hold such terror on this list.  Seems like there's a fair number of obstacles to doing that, and I'm not sure that a bass string possesses the kind of mass/elastic energy -- or whatever physics/technical term applies -- to achieve such flight in any case. </div> <div>   </div> <div> But as someone who humbly bows before simple empirical fact, at least when one slaps me in the face, I would certainly defer to those who've personally witnessed a bass string take majestic flight from a grand piano.  Any chance someone here might describe such an event?  (I've got an old grand I'm seriously considering popping some strings on for experimental purposes.) </div> <div>   </div> <div> Best, </div> <div>   </div> <div> Jeff </div> <blockquote style='border:none;border-left:solid black 1.5pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 4.0pt; margin-left:3.75pt;margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt'> <div> ----- Original Message ----- </div> <div style='font-color:black'> From: <a href="mailto:andrew@andersonmusic.com" title="andrew@andersonmusic.com">Andrew Anderson</a> </div> <div> To: <a href="mailto:caut@ptg.org" title="caut@ptg.org">College and University Technicians</a> </div> <div> Sent: Friday, March 24, 2006 3:21 PM </div> <div> Subject: Re: [CAUT] Adams 1/4 tone sharp piano </div> <div>   </div> Jeff, I was thinking that if I got stuck with one of these jobs I'd run truck straps over the piano to restrain any flying strings and than seriously suggest leaving them there. ;-) Andrew Anderson At 11:23 AM 3/24/2006, you wrote: On Mar 24, 2006, at 11:10 AM, Wolfley, Eric ((wolfleel)) wrote: Alan, in answer to your question about how sharp I would tune I would say 50 cents! It wouldn't make any sense to de-tune more...a semitone is just a transposition. Any less or more than a quarter-tone (sharp or flat) would diminish the effect. Ok, here's a suggestion that sounds like a dumb southerner might suggest, that should reduce risk of all this. How about LOWERING the pitch 50 cents and transposing 1/2 step sharp? Jeff   </blockquote> </div> </body> </html>