Hamburg Steinway "D" bass (wound string) Buzz

[Ron May, RPT]

Hi Rich

As I understand it, the piano had been hit with a fork lift which went
through the case when it was new and the church got a special deal on the
piano. The repair must have been pretty good because I have yet to find
where the fork came through.  This happened years ago. Everyone is impressed
with this piano but me. I am amazed that with the concert artists  that we
have using this piano someone hasn't complained big time.  I would have
probably been better off had I kept my mouth shut but the buzz drives me
crazy and this piano should be sounding a whole lot better than it does.
The strings have become a real puzzle. I also can't understand why "all" the
wound strings buzz and I also have a hard time believing it is all the wound
strings but no buzz is heard elsewhere. It is a pronounced loose winding
type of buzz.  I am looking forward to checking out all the new ideas I've
received today.  There are several I haven't tied.

Fortunately no one is hanging over my head and screaming.  This Steinway is
definitely a work in progress and every improvement is appreciated..

Thank you for your input

Ron
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Richard Brekne" <Richard.Brekne@grieg.uib.no>
To: "Pianotech" <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Sunday, May 23, 2004 6:49 PM
Subject: Re: Hamburg Steinway "D" bass (wound string) Buzz


> Whoa there... just as  I thought the solution was to change bass strings
> you say the darn thing has been hit by a fork lift.... then allude to
> some repair.
>
> Ok... so is the buzz comming from the bass strings themselves... or is
> it only present when you play bass strings... but comes from the case or
> structure ?
>
> Cheers
> RicB
>
> Ron May, RPT wrote:
>
> > Are there any piano techs on this list that are still interested in
> > talking about piano problems or are we now just solving political
> > problems.  If so, I could use your input.
> >
> > I am the servicing piano technician for a Hamburg Steinway (D) 9 foot
> > grand. According to the serial (450690)number it seems to be a 1977.
> >
> > I first came on the scene with this piano a couple of years ago and
> > although everyone seems to be in love with the piano I immediately was
> > taken back by a pronounced buzz in all of the 39 wound strings.  There
> > seems to be plenty of bearing on the bass bridge. I have exhausted all
> > of my known fixes. I have put additional twists in the strings in
> > hopes of tightening the windings. I've tapped the strings down on the
> > bridge and hitch pins. all of which improved the piano a bit.  There
> > is a box of Mapes strings which I assume were kept for emergency
> > replacement that have been boxed for 6-7 years. I replaced a few of
> > the strings with the strings from the box.  This also improved the
> > sound considerably  on those strings but a buzz is still quite
> > audible.. From what I have heard, at the time of purchase, a fork lift
> > had been run into the side of the piano and the church had made a
> > special buy on the piano after the repair. I can't help but wonder if
> > the mapes strings being rolled up in the original box wouldn't also
> > have developed a few loose windings. I have heard some good reports
> > about Arledge Bass Strings and am very interested in any experiences
> > you have had with these strings.
> >
> > This piano is used for many concerts during season. I am surprised
> > that we have had no complaints from the artists. Any help and
> > suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
> >
> > Ron May, RPT
> > Vero Beach FL
>
>
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