Standard Pitch 1870 to Present

[John Delacour]

At 17:09 18/09/01 -0400, Farrell wrote:
>It's modern and it needs stringing with proper cast steel wire. Bechstein
>is a maker, like Steinway, who never went for very high tensions.
>
>***** On what basis do you make this statement? Why does it need proper cast
>steel wire?

Because unless they can provide evidence that the stainless wire has the 
same tensile strength as cast steel piano wire, your strings will break, 
especially in the high treble.  The chromium content in the ss probably 
means the wire will  have a slightly higher specific gravity than steel 
wire, _maybe_ enough to require the use of half a gauge thinner wire to 
achieve the original tensions, provided the wire will stand these to start 
with.  If you need to reduce the tension drastically to bring the strings 
within the limits, then you will greatly affect the output of the piano in 
addition to the altered tone you will get from the ss wire anyway.

Others have mentioned other possible drawbacks with regard to friction, 
which ought to be considered, but the main thing is to establish that the 
wire will be working within a proper tensile range, say no more than 55% of 
the breaking strains they give you.  I'd also make sure to talk to someone 
who has actually strung a modern piano with this wire.

JD