Broken Bass string

[Roger Jolly]

Hi David,
            A couple of suggestions, had an Everet with a similar problem
that was traced to the plate pins, when they were hammered in, a small curl
of swarf was found in the notch of the V bar and pin. If the V bar or pin
has a sharp edge, it can cause this kind of problem.   Setting the let off
to 3/16" can stop the breakage if the pianist is a pounder, the lost of ppp
control is not usually noticed by this type of player.
Regards Roger.





At 02:02 PM 29/08/98 -0500, you wrote:
>Dear Friends,
>
>Small Full Gospel Pentecostal Church
>
>Energetic Music, including piano, drums, bass guitar, electric guitar,
>keyboard and about 6 singers.  Large 18 or 24 track mixer with lots of
>preamps, amplifiers and several large  loudspeakers.  Piano has a two part
>microphone, on part attaches to the plate, one part attaches to the
>soundboard, don't know brand name).
>
>The first small piano -- multiple broken strings -- replaced before I began
>tuning there about three or four years ago.
>
>Replacement piano -- 34 year old Everett studio -- no broken strings at
>time of acquiring this piano.
>
>In the past three years, I have replaced about 10 or 12 broken bass strings
>on this piano, mostly using universal bass strings.
>
>Hammers shaped nicely, about a half day's worth of regulation, softened
>hammers considerably, adjusted sustain pedal so as not to lift the dampers
>very far.  (Music is usually played only in about 4 or 5 keys, and the
>hammers are wearing excessively for the notes corresponding to those keys.
>Hammers for the white notes are excessively worn, hammers for sharp and
>flat notes are barely worn.)
>
>Yet still strings are breaking.  I have replaced the bass strings on note
>D3 about three times.  This spring, I replaced both strings of the unison
>D3 with new custom made bass strings from Mapes, from a paper pattern of
>the stringing scale.  Today, a phone call from the pastor to replace a
>broken string on note D3.
>
>Help!
>
>I know that the archives have information on this, and I have read most of
>it.  Is there anything that I can still do that I have not already done?
>
>I shaped the hammers and softened them in hopes that the softer hammers
>would help alleviate the problem of broken strings.
>
>I did a fairly good quick regulation of the action, setting let-off at
>about 3/16" in hopes that this would help stop broken strings.  
>
>(I did this hammer shaping and regulation on my own time, in hopes that I
>could help the church out and learn something for myself as well.  Hey, I
>was a beginner, I was learning, I know now how to do the work and don't do
>free work anymore, unless the situation truly does warrant it and my wife
>and I discuss the situation first.)
>
>I set the damper pedal to lift the dampers a minimal amount, in hopes that
>this would help stop broken strings.
>
>What else can I do?  Is this year and model of piano especially prone to
>string breakage?  (I tune several other Everett studios and consoles that
>do not have this problem).
>
>I don't believe the problem is with the piano, or the replacement strings,
>the hammers, or the regulation.  I believe the problem can be isolated to
>the pianist, whom I have never seen play.  What possible piano technique
>can this pianist be using to enable them to break strings so frequently?
>If I go to a worship service there to observe the pianist, what should I
>look for?
>
>Thanks for any replies!
>
>David Vanderhoofven
>Joplin, Missouri
>
>
>
>
Roger Jolly
Baldwin Yamaha Piano Centre
Saskatoon and Regina
Saskatchewan, Canada.
306-665-0213
Fax 652-0505