Broken Bass string

[Joe & Penny Goss]

Hi David, There are several things that come to mind.
1 remove the sustain rod so that it can not be used
2 install a piece of felt ( like an apartment mute ) that is permanently on
3 replace the piano player with one much older and decrepit
4 place the monitor 6 inches from the piano players ear when they are
playing and crank up the volume they may rapture and solve the dilemma
Joe Goss
----------
> From: Vanderhoofven <dkvander@clandjop.com>
> To: pianotech@ptg.org
> Subject: Broken Bass string
> Date: Saturday, August 29, 1998 1:02 PM
> 
> 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
> 
> 
>