[pianotech] Scary Experience

[Kendall Ross Bean]

I'll second that about Baldwin pinblocks. Some of the old-timers I have
talked with, who were around when Baldwin first came out with that 41-ply
multilaminate block, said at the time it made them seriously consider
changing professions. 
 
Snap! and Bang! are the most-oft heard sounds that result from attemping to
turn the pins in that fabulous creation of Baldwin's. -Does really make it a
challenge to put those pins or strings where you want them.
 
Most of the bent tuning pins I have seen in rebuilding, also, were from
Baldwin pinblocks. This could be another reason why they are so hard to fine
tune. I think the bent pins may often have originated at the factory, as a
result of driving or chipping.
 
The joke among rebuilders is: most pianos when you restring using the
existing pinblock, you install oversize pins. With the Baldwin, you restring
with pins one size under what you took out.
 
~Kendall Ross Bean
 
PianoFinders 

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From: wimblees at aol.com [mailto:wimblees at aol.com] 
Sent: Saturday, December 06, 2008 10:35 PM
To: toddpianoworks at att.net; pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Scary Experience


Todd

The snap you heard is the pin turning in the pin block. It has nothing to do
with the string. Baldwin grands are notorious for having very tight pins,
and they are a bear to fine tune. It just takes a lot of experience, and
patience.  


Willem (Wim) Blees, RPT
Piano Tuner/Technician
Mililani, Oahu, HI
808-349-2943
Author of: 
The Business of Piano Tuning
available from Potter Press
www.pianotuning.com


-----Original Message-----
From: Matthew Todd <toddpianoworks at att.net>
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Sent: Sat, 6 Dec 2008 4:59 pm
Subject: [pianotech] Scary Experience



So today I tuned a Baldwin grand that had rusty strings.  The rust wasn't
throughout the strings just in splotches along each string.  When I got to
the high treble I could not control the movement of the pitch as I was
tuning and that was one of the worst feelings!  When I wanted to turn the
hammer a little bit, I heard a loud 'snap' and the pitch got away from me
and went way sharp.  I am assuming this is due the capo bar binding on the
strings due to the rust?  Anyway, what is the best approach to this type of
situation?  I am almost ashamed to say, but that tuning today was at best,
second rate, only because I was kind of nervous about not having control of
what I was doing and possible string breakage.
 
Thank you,


TODD PIANO WORKS 
Matthew Todd, Piano Technician 
(979) 248-9578
http://www.toddpianoworks.com <http://www.toddpianoworks.com/> 

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