Broken Bass string

[David ilvedson]

You are correct of course but I leave my good key easing pliers 
in the car and use the "sharp splitter" for an occasional tight 
bushing.  Remember, if you know it can split the key you will 
use restraint!  

David Ilvedson, RPT
Pacifica, CA


> Date:          Sat, 29 Aug 1998 19:29:49 -0500
> From:          David Porritt <dporritt@swbell.net>
> Organization:  Southwestern Bell Internet Services
> To:            pianotech@ptg.org
> Subject:       Re: Broken Bass string
> Reply-to:      pianotech@ptg.org

> David:
> 
> This goes counter to "conventional wisdom" on this subject, but I have seen
> places like the church you describe where softer hammers caused more breakage
> than harder.  There is a certain amount of emotional feedback the pianist wants
> in the music.  If the hammers are soft, they simply have to play harder to get
> what they are after.  I really think placing a stage monitor closer to the
> pianist where he/she can hear the piano better would help the most.  This
> person wants a certain sound and will play as hard as it takes to get it.
> 
> dave
> 
> Vanderhoofven 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
> 
> 
> 
> --
> _______________________________________________
> 
> David M. Porritt, RPT
> Meadows School of the Arts
> Southern Methodist University
> Dallas, Texas
> _______________________________________________
> 
> 
> 
> 
David Ilvedson, RPT
Pacifica, CA
ilvey@jps.net