Broken Bass string reply

pianoman pianoman@inlink.com
Sun, 30 Aug 1998 10:57:37 -0500


Hi David,
I would try increasing the let-off in the bass area at least, which will
have the effect of giving the player less power when he/she plays hard. 
	 I would not decrease sustain pedal adjustment.  Everett studios are a
pretty closed up piano (if it is a model 11) and the player is in the worst
position to hear what he is doing.  One suggestion. hope it helps.
James Grebe
R.P.T. of the P.T.G.
 St. Louis, MO.
Competent Service since 1962
                                        Caster Cup Center of the Universe
                   Home of Handsome Hardwood Caster Cups
pianoman@inlink.com        

----------
> From: Vanderhoofven <dkvander@clandjop.com>
> To: pianotech@ptg.org
> Subject: Broken Bass string
> Date: Saturday, August 29, 1998 2:02 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
> 
> 


This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC