Beginner Student and String Breakage

[Keith Roberts]

Be sure to buy a quality micrometer. You will need it for everything from
tuning pins to center pins to balance rail pins to guesstimating felt
thickness. You can't do ANYTHING without knowing what size it is.
I ordered a compliment of the reels with brakes. Every 1/2 size from #13 to
#17 [.031 to .039 inches] plus every whole size through out the range.
Believe me, you will uncover many a defective string while tuning. If the
piano warrants replacement with identical wire, it should not be left with
without any wire as the damage to the hammer and maybe center pins could
mean headaches. Some pianos the wire has been missing for years. You need
the heavy gauge stuff to use as a leader to tie bass strings. Save any
broken bass strings, you'll find the core wire is used to make a string
lifter for leveling strings and tightening up tuning pin coils. Also a screw
driver levered off another pin works for that if you haven't gotten the coil
lifter that comes with the Potter course. It's the one with the string
spacer on the other end. I bought a 3/16" or about 5mm brass rod at the
local building store and filed a groove across the end to seat on the
string. The wire cutters are usually are large enough for tapping. Don't
bury the wire into the bridge cap, you are trying to seat the wire against
the bridge pin too. Use the brass to seat the wire around the hitch pin and
level the tuning pin coils. I also just bought Joe Gooses, I mean Goss, bent
brass rod with a well thought out end that has great feel for the string and
sideways movement. This defines the bends of the wire around the bridge
pins, eliminating false beats, even between bass strings or upright action
parts. (nice tool Joe, The good sideways grab makes it less likely to punch
a hole in the sound board.) About an inch or two inches above the bridge,
give the string a good stretch towards the pin and slightly down. Guess how
far sharp to pull the string so settling brings it down to pitch. Adjust
sharpness for the next string.
Keith R.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Van Der Rhoer" <laurav1@mac.com>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Friday, February 22, 2002 7:10 AM
Subject: Beginner Student and String Breakage


> 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
>
>