In response to iron vs copper wrap, I offer this from "Proceedings of the Conference of Piano Technicians": (Remarks were made by string-maker E. Johnson from Schaaf Piano String Co. from Chicago in 1916): "If a dull tone is desired we find the copper wires act to better advantage than the iron." also: "We do not advocate an entire set of iron strings - the last ten strings should be copper. This is due to the fact that the diameter of the core is so much less than the diameter of the covering wire. On fine strings we have found where the same weight of hammers is used and on the same scale, the iron strings give better results. I do not know just what the reason is." and: "The value of copper bass strings is only salesman's talk. He is the one who went outside and popularized it. Later, when you offered your piano with iron strings, he told you everybody was using copper strings. A lower copper string is superior to iron. I recommend copper on the lower 10 strings, but on the finer strings better results may be had with the iron." Vince Mrykalo BYU >>> Dave Sanderson <pianobiz@juno.com> 04/04/97 05:46am >>> Phil Steel has been used throughout history only when copper was not available (times of war) or just too expensive(trying to save a buck). Its' properties of sound production have no merit above copper, in fact its' hardness and its' rusting make it an inferior choice to copper. >From all I can tell it is a myth that manufacturers preferred steel or used it to create a particular sound. High cost and/or shortages appear to have been the driving factors. This is proven by the fact that as soon as copper did become available again ALL manufacturers switched back to copper immediately. David Sanderson Littleton, MA Pianobiz@juno.com On Fri, 04 Apr 1997 05:29:25 -0500 (EST) Phil Bondi <tito@peganet.com> writes: >...came into a dealers store a while ago..it's a project for me when >it's >slow..question..it has steel-wound strings..never seen this >before..someone >wanna give me a history lesson..??..!!..?? > > > >
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