Why NOT to polish bass strings.......

[David Nereson]

I don't know.  I was once told never to use any liquids on bass strings,
but then heard later of success with various solvents.  I once polished
the top sides of the bass strings, leaving them in the piano, and didn't
notice any change in tone.  But maybe with them removed, the rubbing
loosens up the winding just enough to affect the tone ???  There are so
many mysteries in this trade, each one with twenty different explanations.
	--David Nereson, RPT

-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org]On
Behalf Of gordon stelter
Sent: Wednesday, June 27, 2007 7:03 PM
To: Pianotech List
Subject: Why NOT to polish bass strings.......

I just did an extensive house call on a 1941 Knabe,
5'4". After removing the bass strings from the hitch
pins, and running them through the Defubbomizer, I
took my gray "Scotch-Brite" pad ( or was it 0000 steel
wool ?) and started to polish. But, after the first 2
strings, a "birdie" told me not to! Then I flushed
them with brake part cleaner, hooked them back up, and
pulled to pitch. The 2 I polished were  noticeably
duller in tone. ( So I gave the customer a discount. )
     Was it what I used, or will ANY polishing of bass
strings harm the tone ??? I won't do any more, until
certain.
     Peace,
     Thump







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