Broken Bass string

[Christopher D. Purdy]

>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

David,

I have seen this over and over. You are right, it is not the piano, the
strings, the stringing scale, etc.  It is the way the piano is being
played.  Cheap spinet or Steinway D, it doesn't matter.  Monkeying with
dampers, let off, and so forth will have little if any benefit, the problem
is a loose nut on the keyboard.  If you have any doubt, attend that church
one Sunday morning.  I have on more than one occasion had the "pianist"
brag to me how she had broken another string.  I don't think this is what
make a joyful noise is supposed to mean.  In some cases I have seen the
sound guy put a large monitor speaker right in the pianists face and crank
the volume to get the guy to back off.

Have a frank discussion with the pastor or music director.  Let them know
in no uncertain terms that the piano is being destroyed and it is their
decision to let it continue and pay the price or make changes.  Make sure
to make it clear that they are not only breaking strings but destroying
action centers, key bushings, hammers... In a few years this piano will
need to be rebuilt or replaced.  Make sure they understand just how
expensive this is going to cost.

Unfortunately, I have seen technicians take the blame for this abuse.
"Well the tuner was just here a month ago and listen how bad it sounds
already"  "That was the string he just  replaced, he must have done it
wrong"  Going out of your way to help can often backfire and hurt your
reputation.  On the other hand, you will be a regular visitor and make
money.  Charge full price for every visit and repair.  They may not see the
light until they see you were right and it is costing them plenty.

Good luck and God bless,

chris

-Christopher D. Purdy R.P.T.   School of Music  Ohio University  Athens OH

-purdy@oak.cats.ohiou.edu   (614) 593-1656    fax# (740) 593-1429