Beginner Student and String Breakage

[Greg Newell]

Laura,
    There is no reason to be discouraged. The only recommendation I would have
is to use a lubricant on the strings bearing points before you tune next. I
would suggest Protek's Center Pin Lubricant as one possibility. This will enable
the string to slide freely as you move it and give you a much better ability to
gauge what's going on when you turn the pin. I assume you were on the right pin
weren't you?
    The "warble" sound you heard was likely that the bridge pins were creeping
up out of the bridge and the string was riding up with them. If you were to take
a light hammer and a small punch and seat the bridge pins, lightly, back into
the bridge, the problem should go away. Did I mention you should do this
lightly? This should be on the order of tapping and not a swing of the hammer.
    Please don't be so discouraged so quickly. Give yourself a chance to learn
more first! :-)  Seriously, in the overall scheme of things a broken string is
really a small thing. Proceed carefully and ask questions when you aren't sure
of something. We have here a great community of help literally at your
fingertips. Have fun!

Greg

Van Der Rhoer wrote:

> I am a beginner student with the Randy Potter School of Piano Technology
> Home Study Course.  I am embarrassed to say that after only three days of
> practice I already broke a string.  This is my own piano, but discourages me
> quite a bit, and I wonder if experienced tuners/technicians could comment on
> how common string breakage is at the outset of one's training -- and will I
> be likely to have it happen several times while I am learning?
>
> I was aware of the danger of breaking strings and therefore followed the
> course recommendations scrupulously, i.e., dropping pitch first and only
> nudging the hammer.  I couldn't place my arm on the top of the piano as it
> is a baby grand, but tried not to apply too much pressure and always went
> back down (turning the hammer counterclockwise) when I was unsure, before
> again trying to tighten it.  Does anyone know of additional or better safety
> tips and measures to avoid string breakage?  (If I do it too many times, I'm
> afraid, my family's patience will wear out.  The piano company who will come
> to replace the string may begin to wonder if I have to keep calling them!)
>
> In conclusion, I should say that I have a 1956 baby grand Baldwin that was
> damaged by flooding some twenty years ago, but has been fine since the
> German piano firm repaired it.
>
> I do wonder though about the string I broke -- the left string of Middle C.
> When I dropped pitch a little and then raised the pitch it just continued
> unlike the others to warble out of tune and never sounded even close to
> pure, no matter which direction I was turning.  I then noticed that it
> continued to "sound" as if the sustain pedal were on -- which was not the
> case.  It had also seemed extremely hard to tune the day before and I
> thought maybe Middle C is harder to tune because it gets more use.  Can
> anything be told from these "symptoms"?
>
> Any advice would be welcome as this incident has me rather discouraged.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Laura

--
Greg Newell
mailto:gnewell@ameritech.net