Kranich Bach ache(pitch raise on a century old piano)

[Farrell]

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I don't think folks should be so hesitant to raise the pitch of an old =
neglected upright up to A440. I do dozens of 50 to 200 cent pitch raises =
on 80+ year old uprights each year. I don't leave but one or two a year =
below A440. I'd guess that even on the big pitch raises, 90% of the time =
I have no broken strings. On the older pianos, I try to never exceed =
pulling a string more than 10 or 15 cents sharp during the pitch raise - =
if the piano is more than 40 or 50 cents flat, it will get two pitch =
raise passes - first one targeting A440, and the second with whatever =
overpull is needed. Often you need to do one extra pass in the treble to =
minimize overpull in that area - the high treble is where you will often =
find strings breaking.

One time in my shop I just wanted to see how much you could pull a =
string sharp before it broke. The piano was a 100 year old Everett =
grand. The strings were quite rusty - about as bad as you commonly see - =
the whole piano was unplayable - totally trashed. I tried about a dozen =
strings. All strings went more than 200 cents sharp before breaking! =
Some broke between 300 and 400 cents sharp.

I'm not trying to suggest that means we can safely overpull 200 cents, =
but rather that a string in decent shape can usually stand a little =
strain.

A440 or bust!  (Or not.)

Terry Farrell
  ----- Original Message -----=20
  From: Piannaman@aol.com=20
  To: pianotech@ptg.org=20
  Sent: Friday, January 23, 2004 12:09 AM
  Subject: Kranich Bach ache(pitch raise on a century old piano)


  List,=20

  I got lucky today, I guess.  No broken strings.=20

  When I arrived at the elementary school where my day's most =
interesting tuning was to take place, I found a really beautiful, =
monstrously large Kranich and Bach upright, circa 1903.  It had =
beautifully maintained flame mahagony case. Expected to be a rehearsal =
piano for the California Youth Symphony, it rested in the multi-purpose =
room of the school, 15-20 cents flat in the bass, 20-30 cents in the =
mid, and 25-45 cents flat in the high treble. =20

  SNIP=20

  The false beats in the upper end were a bit gnarly, but the piano =
ended up at A440.  The tone was rich and warm in a way that is unique to =
old uprights.=20

  Ahhh, the day went remarkably better after that was done.=20

  Dave Stahl 
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