[pianotech] Strings made to measure

[David Love]

OK well if you have a record of what was ordered versus what was sent then
insist on a refund or a remake.  And don't let them give you any you know
what.  

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 6:03 PM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Strings made to measure

David,
Good questions, my answers are inserted where they make the most sense.

David Love wrote:
> What information did you provide when you made the set?  
Everything they request at their "how to order" web page, including core 
dia, outer dia, hitch to winding start, hitch to winding end, name size 
and serial of piano, hitch diameter, etc.  Also some notes:  "all 
lengths measured in the piano at pitch", and "If your expertise as 
string makers gives you any concerns about making strings to these 
specifications, please contact me before starting the job."
> Did you check that
> it was accurate?I've rarely had a problem unless I gave the wrong data
butit can happen.  That's why I also calculate the speaking lengths along
with
> the string specs.  
Measurements of hitch-to-bridgepin and hitch-to-agraffe went into a 
spreadsheet for calculation of speaking length and hitch-to-winding 
start and end.  Then into p-Scale for scale analysis, where I can see a 
plot of speaking lengths confirming a uniform progression of lengths.  
I'm pretty sure my specs were good.
> 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.  
The accuracy of my measurements and calculations will be tested when I 
install the strings.  But before I can do that, I need strings made to 
my dimensions.  The strings I received, measured at zero tension, are up 
to 6mm longer than specified (hitch to winding end).  Don't think I'm 
going to take this set to the customer's home for installation..
> 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
>