I've been fortunate to have only my share of broken strings -while- tuning, as opposed to my share -and- those of someone else. 8-} That said, I can easily recall the last three incidences (when it rains, it pours): 1. S&S D, C&A fleet rental. While tuning for concert, one high treble string broke while I was determining whether the note was sharp or flat -- the tuning pin had yet to be moved. JH opinion: fatigue - had it not happened to me, it would have happened during the concert. 2. Baldwin 'M', relatively new - same area, same scenario, except new-to-me client with consistent track record of tuning. After acquiring this client, I mentioned finding (and correcting) a badly installed plain wire in the temperament area. Client said, "The former tuner broke it... he seemed nervous the entire time, and especially after the string broke". JH opinion: Rookie move. Both that middle area string, and the more recent high treble string had been over-pulled due to tuner being on the wrong pin. The first one just broke; the second one just approached the tensile limit and waited for me to come along. There may be more with time -- can't tell by just looking. 3. PSO, new client, bass string broke at coil while I was tuning. JH opinion: Bass bridge had been replaced prior to client moving to my area -- good job too! Existing bass strings were re-used. Person who replaced the bridge got lucky -- I didn't. I expect to have more broken bass strings on this piano. Conclusions: a. Certain scale terminations lend themselves to shearing piano wire; b. Technique helps, but can't overcome a prior tuner's technique; c. You may be the one who, by simply playing the note, pushes a fatigued wire over the edge; d. Customer always gets the opportunity to pay (unless you are the rookie on the wrong pin)! Disclaimer: Before someone hits the flame button about the "rookie" reference, I'll just say that anyone can be on the wrong pin. However, a part of technique is knowing not to pull the string up a half-octave before becoming aware that it's the wrong pin. At 09:23 AM 3/30/99 -0500, you wrote: >Shifting gears a bit on the string replacement thread: > >I've heard that strings should never break during a tuning *if* you >are using the proper technique. The proper technique, per one opinion, >is to *always* lower tension before turning a pin. > >I thought that strings break during a tuning for a variety of reasons, >most that we cannot control. Can we *completely* avoid string breakage >during a tuning by using a particular tuning technique as I was told? > >I tell folks that the poor quality steel wire, the piano design, the >condition of the piano, how hard the piano is played, and over-tension >could all lead to string breakage. And if a string breaks, they pay to >replace it. Is this a correct analysis? > >Regards, > >John Piesik, RPT >Oceanside, CA Jim Harvey, RPT Greenwood, SC harvey@greenwood.net
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