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

[Dean May]

When you loosen the bass string be sure to pull it hard transversely. This
will keep the coils tight on the pin as you turn it. If you do this it will
keep the becket from flexing, weakening and breaking.

Dean

Dean May             cell 812.239.3359 

PianoRebuilders.com   812.235.5272 

Terre Haute IN  47802

-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Randy Chastain
Sent: Thursday, June 28, 2007 11:03 AM
To: Pianotech List
Subject: Re: Why NOT to polish bass strings.......

Gordon & Stephane,
I haven't tried hitting the bass string with a hammer. I do loosen the
objectionable string more than a little, raise the damper out of the way and
give it a few good plucks. I've had success with this and no broken strings.

Randy Chastain
Golden Gate Chapter


On 6/28/07 5:06 AM, "Stéphane Collin" <collin.s at skynet.be> wrote:

> Hi Gordon.
> 
> Indeed, any liquid/chemical mean to polish the bass string will
unfavourably
> alter the tone of the bass strings.  I don't understand why this is.  My
> guess : it is the minute shocks between the brass windings that make the
> high partials of the tone.  Anything in between the windings (dirt, paste,
> and all) will damp the minute shocks, thus the high tones.
> While we are there, may I just mention again what did work for me and what
> didn't, in order to bring back some brightness in the tone ?
> Mechanical rubbing of the brass (scotch brite, steel wool) does improve
the
> look, but not the sound.
> Removing the string from the hitch pin, making a large loop in it and
> running the loop back and forth along the string has mixed results :
> sometimes some brightness comes back, sometimes not at all.
> Removing the string from the hitch pin and twisting it in the direction of
> the winding before putting it back on the hitch can bring some of the
> brightness back, certainly with many turns, but it also affects the
> inharmonicity of the string, and after three or four twists, the sound of
> the string becomes objectionnable.
> Removing just the tension of the string, leaving it in place, and banging
it
> hard with heavy hammer strokes works great, nice results, but one every 4
> strings so treated breaks when pulled back to tension.
> Replacing the strings with new ones works like wonder, assumed that you
wait
> until the strings have settled.
> 
> I heard that guitarists who can't afford buying a new set of strings (the
> majority of those) have good results boiling the strings in boiling water.
> I never tried this with a piano string, but am wanting to hear comments
from
> those who did.
> 
> Hoping to raise some more comments.
> 
> Best regards.
> 
> Stéphane Collin.
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "gordon stelter" <lclgcnp at yahoo.com>
>>     Was it what I used, or will ANY polishing of bass
>> strings harm the tone ??? I won't do any more, until
>> certain.