replacement strings

[Jon Ralinovsky]

Michael,
Take measurements of the strings (David Sanderson sells a nice tape 
measure that fits over the hitch pin to measure winding length and 
distance from the hitch pin to the start of the winding) so you know 
the core diameter and winding diameter, then send the measurements to 
your favorite string maker.

If you haven't already done so, you may want to check for a burr on 
the bridge pin.  Strings break where they are most stressed/weakened.

Feel free to contact me off-list if you'd like more opinions/information/etc.

Respectfully,
Jon


>Hello
>
>  I service a Baldwin Acrosonic that was worked on previously by
>another technician. Both strings (30 and 31) of G2 were replaced by
>someone else with new strings that are not quite like the surrounding
>strings. I just got a call that both of those replacement strings
>broke. The windings look the same and the overall dimension is the
>same as the surrounding strings, but the core wire is size 15 whereas
>the surrounding core wires are size 14. Both strings broke at the top
>bridge pin.
>
>  Is this larger diameter core wire the reason the strings broke? Is
>going up just one whole string size enough to bring the string closer
>to the breaking point? I plan on sending these strings in to be
>duplicated with instructions to use size 14 core wire.
>
>  On more than one occasion I have given Baldwin the model number and
>serial number of a piano and the replacement strings they sent me were
>quite different than what was needed. Maybe this is how the other tech
>got the new strings. Anyway I hope duplication with a different core
>wire will be ok.
>
>Michael Musial
>Reedsville Pa

Jon Ralinovsky
Piano Technician
Department of Music
Miami University
513/529-6548