Jim, I stuck pretty much to the original scale, BUT,  let me give them a call now 2. years later and find out if it has backfired!  I may have been tooooo bold!!!  It sure did get stable quickly tho...;>).  I admit to being a bit green in re-stringing in those days :>()..Come to think of it, it's been more than 3 years.  Time flies! On the broken string issue,  the sound is clearer and longer decay making the old strings not so hot.  Most of them are ready for restringing.  I used the "Wally Brooks" tone building style on the hammers of the poorer stringed areas and it did help even things out a bit.  I would have to ask Richard West, ret. how long he had been using the stainless prior to my getting here.  Some old repairs are obviously stainless and real old ones aren't.  None of the strings are original as far as I can see.  We have a lot of older grands....the oldest being from 1911 and quite a few from the 20's.  Tough old birds! Paul <table width=100%> <tr valign=top> <td width=40%>Jim Busby <jim_busby@byu.edu> Sent by: caut-bounces@ptg.org 08/30/2007 12:25 PM <table border> <tr valign=top> <td bgcolor=white> <div align=center>Please respond to College and University Technicians <caut@ptg.org></div></table> <td width=59%> <table width=100%> <tr valign=top> <td> <div align=right>To</div> <td>College and University Technicians <caut@ptg.org> <tr valign=top> <td> <div align=right>cc</div> <td> <tr valign=top> <td> <div align=right>Subject</div> <td>Re: [CAUT] Scientific study - Stainless wire (Help!)</table> <table> <tr valign=top> <td> <td></table> </table> Paul,   You restrung a Kawai with Stainless? I thought the high tension scales of Kawais precluded them for stainless. What scaling program, or better, how did you figure the scale for the Kawai with the stainless? I’m very much interested in this.   Also, you replaced broken strings with stainless? What about the sound difference, how did you deal with that, or was it even that different. Both of these situations are very curious. Maybe this wire is more versatile and less fragile than I thought. You’re much bolder than I!   Thanks, Jim   <div align=center> <hr></div> From: caut-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of Paul T Williams Sent: Wednesday, August 29, 2007 7:05 AM To: College and University Technicians Subject: Re: [CAUT] Scientific study - Stainless wire (Help!)   Hi Jim, I rebuilt a 1932 Steinway L last fall.   I did restring a Kawai No.600 three years ago for a church (I forgot that I did use stainless on that one as well...) All the other jobs have been replacing broken strings in practice rooms on S&S, M&H grands.  LOTS of them! I'm very happy in how few times they needed tuning before holding "steady".  I will be restringing another L and an A this school year. (as well as a ton of broken strings upstairs!) Best, Paul <table width=100%> <tr valign=top> <td width=47%>Jim Busby <jim_busby@byu.edu> Sent by: caut-bounces@ptg.org 08/28/2007 10:49 AM <table border=4> <tr valign=top> <td bgcolor=white> <div align=center>Please respond to College and University Technicians <caut@ptg.org></div></table> <td width=52%> <table width=100%> <tr valign=top> <td width=12%> <div align=right>To</div> <td width=87%>College and University Technicians <caut@ptg.org> <tr valign=top> <td> <div align=right>cc</div> <td>  <tr valign=top> <td> <div align=right>Subject</div> <td>Re: [CAUT] Scientific study - Stainless wire (Help!)</table>   <table> <tr valign=top> <td>  <td> </table> </table> Paul,   Here I thought I was the only “crazy”, but I’m finding more people coming out of the stainless closet! Peter Grey, back east, has done five Steinways, and we’ve done ten here. Ed has used the wire for historical instruments. I know of a few others who have done one or two.   I would really like to know what pianos you have strung with stainless. Also, please let me know your experience with the wire. I’ll be helping Juan with an article soon and would like more input from other technicians.   I do have some old wire. Good thought.   Thanks.   Regards, Jim Busby   <div align=center>   <hr></div> From: caut-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of Paul T Williams Sent: Tuesday, August 28, 2007 6:53 AM To: College and University Technicians Subject: Re: [CAUT] Scientific study - Stainless wire (Help!)   I really like this question as I have used only the stainless since coming to UNL.  I used Mapes in the "private" world for 15 years and wonder know why I didn't go stainless sooner!   Also,Jim,  do you have some old wire in the corner of the shop somewhere?  Old vs. new wire might be another study... Best, Paul <table width=100%> <tr valign=top> <td width=47%>Jim Busby <jim_busby@byu.edu> Sent by: caut-bounces@ptg.org 08/27/2007 07:30 PM   <table border=4> <tr valign=top> <td bgcolor=white> <div align=center>Please respond to College and University Technicians <caut@ptg.org></div></table> <td width=52%>  <table width=100%> <tr valign=top> <td width=12%> <div align=right>To</div> <td width=87%>College and University Technicians <caut@ptg.org> <tr valign=top> <td> <div align=right>cc</div> <td>  <tr valign=top> <td> <div align=right>Subject</div> <td>Re: [CAUT] Scientific study - Stainless wire (Help!)</table>     <table> <tr valign=top> <td>  <td> </table> </table> Hi Jurgen, You’re right. I can’t see why Americans don’t use it, except that they haven’t used it. I “went out on a limb” and experimented with it on one piano. Now after about 3 years I’ll use it EVERY time I can! I think the tuning stability has to do with the malleability that Daniel mentioned. It’s absolutely amazing to me that it takes only two or three tunings on a newly strung piano and it’s stable, ready to play without any “prepping” (bending, etc.) Besides the stainless factor I think this is the biggest reason why I use it. Instant stability. Good question. Thanks. Jim Busby BYU   <div align=center>   <hr></div> From: caut-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of Jurgen Goering Sent: Monday, August 27, 2007 5:09 PM To: caut@ptg.org Subject: Re: [CAUT] Scientific study - Stainless wire (Help!) Hello Jim, this sounds like a very worthwhile, interesting, and for me, exciting prospect. As a believer in stainless wire for many different situations and applications, I am surprised it is so slow to get recognition in North America. Among the things you mention, I wonder if there is any way to study how and why stainless wire attains such a high degree of tuning stability. Jurgen Goering Piano Forte Supply (250) 754-2440 info@pianofortesupply.com http://www.pianofortesupply.com On Aug 27, 2007, at 14:48, Jim Busby wrote: List, We (BYU) finally are ready to do some scientific studies of stainless wire. This will be conducted by Physics professors/students here at BYU. Could any of you help me pose some “questions”, “queries” or whatever you want to call it, for these studies? One of our student piano technicians is doing his senior project and his professors (who we’ve bugged for years) are just now getting excited about this. Here are some things I’ve thought of; 1 What are the actual differences in sound between stainless and Mapes or Roslau? (Spectrum, etc.) 2 What are the differences in inharmonicity between the two? 3 (how?) Do bass strings with stainless core sound different than other core? 4 etc…. Jim Ellis, others, I’d really like some input on this. We have our ducks in a row so now is the time. Thanks, Jim Busby BYU