Steinway bass string scales (fwd)

[torrella@umich.edu]

Forwarded message:
>
> Greeting again, all!
>
> While reading a post by Audrey Karabinus (Re: Steinway boards, Sunday,
> October 29, 1995) recently, something she said about going to the source
> (" If you still have a technical question, why not go right to
> the factory source and call Michael Mohr or Scott Jones?") made me wonder
> if we're talking to the same people.
>
> I have recently been confounded by differences in bass string scales that
> Steinway has been using.  Several pianos in my purview that have had
> broken-bass-string-syndrome (if memory serves, their serial #s are in the
> 414,000 range) have shown scales that are vastly different from what
> Mapes sends out as being Steinway scales.  What made me wonder about
> Audrey's note is a response we got from Michael Mohr when we asked him
> about Steinway's bass string scale.  The question was simply, "may we
> have the specifications for Steinway L bass strings?"  The answer?  "I
> can't share that with you.  It's 'guarded' information."
>
> Guarded?  I suppose Michael would next suggest that we all put away our
> micrometers and not bother to mic bass strings as we replace them lest we
> discover this "trade secret!"
>
> Has anyone been privy to Steinway bass string scales?  I'm interested in
> knowing what kinds of changes have been made over the last 20-25 years --
> *if* there have been any.  I consider this information anything *but* top
> secret since it's important to try to match string core/winding gages
> when replacing bass strings (it's called "homogenous unisons").
>
> I tried to get this information from Steinway.  They weren't very forthright.
>
> Feel free to respond directly to me (especially if there are files to be
> offered) at torrella@umich.edu.  For those who were aware of my presence
> at the University of Illinois, please take note that I am now at the
> University of Michigan!
>
> Thank you!
>
> Ron Torrella
> School of Music             ** STANDARD DISCLAIMERS APPLY **
> University of Michigan
>