[pianotech] Optimum way to stretch a new string

[Paul T Williams]

Yes, Duaine, this is good.

Make sure all 3 of your coils are tight, the becket squeezed in on the 
pin, settle all termination points, lift and level all the strings, seat 
the new strings on the bridges and even the hitch pins.  The better the 
termination points, the better it will settle. make sure the bridge pins 
are snug, too....Are you charging enough for this? Perhaps all this might 
prompt you to do more work, hence, more pay. I used to not charge enough 
in the old days. 99% of folks don't realize what a big deal a string 
replacement is.  It is a big deal and you should charge accordingly with 
the rates in your area. $10 bucks is not OK, for instance,....just a 
thought. I'm not putting any suggested pricing out there at all, but who 
would charge $10 for a string replacement.  It takes too long to do that 
properly.....

Paul




From:
Ed Foote <a440a at aol.com>
To:
pianotech at ptg.org
Date:
04/01/2011 02:11 PM
Subject:
Re: [pianotech] Optimum way to stretch a new string



 
<<Is the following way - a good way to break the string or will it take 
the 
stretching?
Twice now, I've pulled the string up to the next note (ex. G to G#), let 
it sit 
for a few seconds then tune it back down 
to (G).
Would it break going up 2 notes (ex. G to A) ?
 
Usually going up a minor third will break most plain wire. Low tenor 
sometimes excepted.  However, if you 
don't break it, but just deform it, you will likely have a bad sounding 
wire. 
     Most of the stretch on the open lengths 
happens instantaneously. What takes time are the bends, but they can be 
settled fairly quickly if you are 100 cents
sharp.  The coil usually has at least 100 cents of slack in it, and the 
becket will never see full tension.  However, 
I have found that squeezing the coil with a pair of small vice grips, jaws 
hollowed a little to grab better, and turning
in the direction of the winding will drop the tension profoundly the first 
couple of twists. It takes quite a massage to 
get the coil tensioned with the string. 
Regards, 
Ed Foote RPT 

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/pianotech.php/attachments/20110401/f31c14b2/attachment.htm>