In a message dated 3/18/2001 7:04:08 PM, Lance wrote: <<"1)In your opinions, do kinked, dented, or bent (depending on what you want to call them) wire in the speaking length section near the agraffes and V-bar of a piano affect the piano's sound i.e., false beats?">> Lance I have never been able to induce "false beats" by intentionally bending strings. Doing a very thorough job of string leveling will "kink" or "bend"(sic) strings...does this induce "false beats"? If however the string has an obvious "dent" in it, then perhaps it would be wise to replace that string. <<"2)Does it affect the pianos tunability or the ability to tune good unisons?">> See above.......but I would say not. <<"3)Would you say that a Steinway D, 5 years old with this condition throughout the tenor and lower treble is less desirable than one without the condition?">> While it is not uncommon for S&S Ds, of all ages, to have false beats in the sections you describe....though rarely would the cause be a particular string, per se. <<"4)Can this condition be _eliminated_ by any method short of restringing?">> This ""kinked and bent" condition can be massaged out with a hammer shank or a soft brass rod.........any that can not be staightened to a large extent should be evaluated carefully before replacing the string............any false beats may 'not' be coming from the string and replacing may just be cosmetic application of time. Just my opinion. Jim Bryant (FL)
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