wire curve

[JIMRPT@AOL.COM]

In a message dated 2/27/99 11:25:56 AM, Ron wrote:

<<"I've heard a considerable number of rather vague references to
accommodating
the "natural" curve of the wire when stringing. Frankly, this sounds to me
just like all the other mythology and Voodoo surrounding pianos, including
magic soundboard varnish, what flavor tuning tip you use, duplex
optimization, etc.">>

  Ron; 
  Now that Jon has explained his "natural curve" as being handmade rather than
what happens as it is drawn and rolled into coils I have a few thoughts about
the mythology involved here.
  The comments that I have seen, I thought were referring to the 'natural'
"natural" curve as the wire is fed out for restringing, i.e., such comments as
"always form coil on the pin 'with' the curve"...........it has always seemed
to me that one could do this on only one pin as the other pin would have the
wire coming to it in the exact opposite curve.  That is, unless one turned one
coil CW and the other CCW, one of the coils would of necessity be formed
opposing the "natural" curve.

 So if my postualtion is correct, which note suffers from being coiled in the
manner it was coiled?   I submit, neither.

  Even in Jons explanation of 'natural' curve the two ends of the wire will be
coiled in opposing directions to a perhaps greater extent than ones which were
installed less meticulously as both 'might' be coiled against the "natural"
curve.
In the very least the speaking length would be formed 'against the curve'.
 
  So if my postualtion is correct which note suffers from being coiled/formed
in the manner it was coiled/formed?   I submit, neither.

Well, Jim, you might ask..Why does changing the wire sometimes cure a "funny"
noise problem? 
  It could be from several reasons; forming a new groove on the capo as you
pull the new wire to pitch, or even it was a bad piece of wire that was
causing the "funny" noise.  We like to think of music wire as being high
quality and for the most part it is but.....there can always be a "bad" spot
in the wire maybe where the drawing was stopped to fix the machine or a
portion was too hot/cold as it was drawn, etc.  Each of these, and others,
could cause a "funny" sounding string...couldn't it?

  This, in my opinion, myth belongs with some of the others such as "a tuning
pin without three coils will not hold tune" or "if you can slip a business
card in between the plate web and the pinblock" the piano ought to be burned,
or there is a definite and specific set of specifications for regulating S&S
pianos, or even all coils should end 1/8 inch above the plate.

  Of course this is all just opinion as I know of no study done on the
subject.
My view.
 Jim Bryant (FL)