[pianotech] Strings made to measure

[David Love]

What information did you provide when you made the set?  Did you check that
it was accurate?  I've rarely had a problem unless I gave the wrong data but
it can happen.  That's why I also calculate the speaking lengths along with
the string specs.  When you look them over you can see if you've made a
measurement mistake by either mismatched bichord or a speaking length that
is out of sequence in terms of the overall progression.  Double check your
measurements against the piano and what you sent them and it should be
fairly clear where the mistake happened.  Also, make sure that you're
starting in sequence with the correct string.  I had a problem once where
they forgot one string.  It was early in the sequence and of course my first
thought was that I mismeasured.  It took awhile to figure out that one
string was missing.  You can imagine what that does to the lengths.   

David Love
www.davidlovepianos.com


-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Mike Spalding
Sent: Tuesday, January 19, 2010 3:36 PM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Strings made to measure

David,

Thanks for the response.  I certainly expect that stringmakers can do as 
you say, but I just received a set of strings that's only going to work 
if they get shorter as I pull them up to pitch.  Not sure yet how the 
maker and I are going to resolve this, we're still talking.  Who do you 
find easiest to communicate with regarding length and stretch?

thanks

Mike

David Love wrote:
> String makers can calculate stretch so just tell them what you want in
terms
> of the unwrapped portion when at tension.  
>
> David Love
> www.davidlovepianos.com
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On
Behalf
> Of Mike Spalding
> Sent: Tuesday, January 19, 2010 6:13 AM
> To: Pianotech
> Subject: [pianotech] Strings made to measure
>
> List,
>
> I'm still trying to build a relationship with a string maker (any 
> stringmaker) such that they will understand what I'm trying to order, 
> and will reliably produce usable strings.  Latest issue:  string length 
> as wound vs. string length at pitch.  When you order strings to a set of 
> measurements, do you shorten the specified length by an amount of 
> stretch/loop crush that you estimate, or do you rely on the stringmaker 
> to estimate the length change and make the strings shorter than you 
> specify?  How do you communicate this with your stringmaker?  Stories of 
> successful relationships with specific stringmakers much appreciated!
>
> thanks
>
> Mike
>
>
>