Hi Ed. I think this is what you were looking for. Terry Farrell Piano Tuning & Service Tampa, Florida mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com >List, >A few weeks ago someone posted the different string companies along with the >ratings and approximate prices. >Having misplaced my printed copy would that person/persons please repost. >It's always good to be aware of new sources. >Thanks, >Ed Mashburn,RPT >Piano services of Florida,Inc. ----- Original Message ----- From: "David Love" <davidlovepianos@hotmail.com> To: <pianotech@ptg.org> Sent: Sunday, March 04, 2001 2:04 PM Subject: Re: $450.00 Bass strings??????? > Dale: > > Sanderson strings run about $8.00 per string. There is an additional > $100.00 charge to rescale the entire piano if you want. It is not always > necessary to rescale if you are matching the old set. Thus, the total price > will vary from piano to piano. I have ordered only one set so far for an > old Chickering which I had them rescale since the piano was originally > scaled for A435. There were significant changes made from the original > scaling throughout. I had no problems with the quality of the bass strings. > > David Love > > David Love > > > >From: "Erwinpiano" <Erwinpiano@email.msn.com> > >Reply-To: pianotech@ptg.org > >To: <pianotech@ptg.org> > >Subject: $450.00 Bass strings??????? > >Date: Sun, 4 Mar 2001 10:24:09 -0800 > > > > Terry > > > > So glad you (I) opened this can o worms in regards to bass string > >quality and prices. I realize this is a different thread than the "one > >scale for M&H AA" but that ones well worn and needs possible retiring. > > > > In my response to Bill Ballard he was expressing frustration with > >incorrectly made strings,winding lengths,e.t.c. My statement to him was > >that > >there was only $50 difference between the low and high quality bass strg > >sets/makers and that if you have even one glitch or other unhappy exp. with > >the low end set it becomes a VERY expensive LOW end set.(It' Possible to > >have same problems with some high end sets) Your response was that the > >Sanderson's sets of strings run $450.00. > >U.S. ( YIKES!!!!!!!!! my response). Can we talk. > > > > The following commentary is strictly my opinion(which I'm fond of ) > >and one formed from many hours of grinding my teeth and pounding on the > >table in frustration over bass string HASSLES. > > > > > > Ari Isaac -bass strings $225.00 unusual ideas > >bout > >scaling > > Steinway- supplied MAPES strings $ Don't know much about it > > Schaff -strings as you stated run appox. $180.00 scale help unknown > > Mapes- roughly the same $180.00good luck with rescale > >help > > G.C. strings -Rescaling part of price $200.00-$240.00 depending on > >no.strgs. > > Sanderson -Rescaling part of the price $450.00 Give or take/options > > Others- no experience > > > > Having tried many sets of most all but the Sanderson's strings I can > >say that > >there are huge differences. I can also say that every bass string maker has > >goofs blunders and anomaly's proving to me that bass string making is not > >an exact science but a practice of an art that is limited by quality of > >materials, design and human skill/error. As a rebuilder seeking superior > >results(aren't we all) > >and efficiency I can't long afford to work with strings that are 1. Poor > >sounding or unpredictable. 2. Frequently giving problems serious enough to > >replace one or two or more strings after the initial installation.3. Or > >having false > >beats develop over time on a routine basis. > > Having to go back and redo a string or a set makes that brand the very > >most expensive strings money and frustration can buy. I put a very high > >premium on the value of my time, the end tonal result and my sanity! String > >replacement after the fact is MADDENING. (I THINK THAT'S CLEAR) > > That being said some people are more adept at winding/producing > >strings > >and understand the principles more clearly and care about the end results > >more intensely. For that I'm grateful and I don't have to design scales or > >wrap the string. I have other things I like to do!!! > > Now just because a set of bass strings is more spensive doesn't mean > >it's > >better although it could if you'll follow my logic. I.E. The Isaac string > >I > >used lot of . When they were right they were really good but the > >aggravation of continual falsebeats,(which ment reordering, replacing and > >delivery schedules disrupted and sometimes very expensive follow up service > >calls to far away locations) inconsistent wraps and poor customer service > >finally got the best of me. A VERY Expensive string!!I hope he has > >rectified > >his difficulties and is doing well but I will not use them again. For those > >of you wondering ,I used dozens of sets of the above, so I think I gave it > >a > >fair shot. > > > > ON THE OTHER HAND. > > > > Over the last 5yrs. I've used at least 50 sets of THE G.C. STRING > >CO. > >,as are many rebuilders dealing high end pianos, and have been ecstatic 1. > >With tone. It's clean well balanced easy to tune with only an occasional > >false beat. The wraps are very consistently within 1/2" of the > >terminus.(VERY STEINWAY SOUNDING) Also DANNY IS VERY FUSSY about results > >and his ability to analyze scale design flaws. In fact scale analysis and > >design is just part of the job. If when I have questions about a scale > >that looks odd, like the M&H ? floating on the list or whatever ,I know > >he's > >not going to duplicate some freak of engineering just because it was > >ORIGINAL. Soooo with all due respect to the Sanderson's( the S.A.T. > >CHANGED > >MY LIFE ) I ask an honest partially uniformed question. Why should I pay > >an > >extra one to two hundred dollars to get what I'm already getting??????? > > > > Considering all this which set of bass strings I'm I getting the most > >booing for my buck? > > I consider theG.C.product, personal service and hassle free aspect of > >this supplier an incredible labor saver and hey since I'm not replacing > >faulty strings and pounding on the table in frustration I even have extra > >days to go fishing!!!!!! > > I think I'll ask Danny to go fishing > > > > NO LONGER STRUNG OUT(OR ALONG) IN MODESTO. > > Sincerely, Respectfully submitted > > Dale Erwin > > > > > Subject: Re: $450.00 Bass strings??????? > Hi Tom > > Thanks for the nice comments on my BB. Also appreciate info and feedback > on the Sanderson( acu-strings)Strings. Since Terry Farrell intiated this > topic I've been thinking about the price differences between the G.C. > strings & the acu-strings. > I dug out my G.C. price list for a string cost comparison between the > two makers. Danny at G.C. has a complete price list available upon request. > He has a progressive list as opposed to one price fits all no matter what > length. Really it makes sense to me that longer strings use more copper than > the short ones > > I.E.The Sanderson( acu-strings) are $8.00 per string. Where as Steinway > models S thru A-3 onthe G.C. list are $4.75 to$5.48 per string which is a > considerable difference. For example a Steinway Model L or O has 42 > strings. The Brand S. string set would be $336.00. The brand G.C. set is > $214.00. The3 bridgeA has 57 strings(has 2 bi's and 3 tri's in tenor) The > comparison there is brand S. at $506.00 (Yikes) and theG.C. at $270.00. > The place the two makers get closer in price is only at the Model D sets. > Once again Brand S. at $312.00 and G.C. at $284.70 and $296.38. The later > price is for the set with double wrapped mono chords and I highly recommend > it on all pianos(The sound is just cleaner) I honestly don't know why > Steinway didn't do that forever espeially onther shorter pianos. > Any way, over all the Sanderson string is considerably more expensive > overall( an average of roughly $125.00) plus the scaling if needed. ARE THEY > REALLY WORTH IT. I guess I here some of you are saying yes and as you > concurred Tom, if you have excellant sound and hassle free service there not > that much more. As for me I'm yet unconvinced. Perhaps I'll be persuaded. To > each there own. But Hey ain't it grand to get your strings from piano techs. > as both makers are! > > Just food for thought. Do you all mark up your parts prices or are we > just performing charitable act of rebuilding skills.I.E. OH Dear Mr./Mrs, > client I've spent much of my life learning about all these wonderful piano > parts. I have THOUSANDS OF HRS. invested so I can give you my reams of > wisdom for free. > I don't mark them up 100% like so many places but I do want to cover my > costs. Your thoughts are welcome. AAhhhhh but maybe I feel a new thread > coming into the fabric of the list. > > Respectfully submitted > Dale Erwin > > _________________________________________________________________ > Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com >
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