[pianotech] broken strings

[David Love]

Sometimes the scaling is to blame if the break point percentage is too high.
But hammers can contribute and pianists can too.  I would not radically
alter the regulation as someone suggested.  That will just have the piano
performing poorly.  I would, however, check the regulation to be sure that
it's correct.  Reshaping the hammers will probably help some.  Be sure that
you level strings and make sure that the hammers are properly mated.  That's
important as you need the force of the blow distributed evenly between the
strings in the unison.  If you've had a lot of strings replaced then it is
quite possible that the strings are not level.  With badly shaped hammers
string mating is impossible.  Shape the hammers so that they are slightly
more pointed rather than round.  Is the piano used with orchestra and
therefore needs to be somewhat brighter?  For these types of hammers compass
point voicing is the best style to use.  The shoulders of the hammers can be
impenetrable and since the hammers lack a lot of internal tension shoulder
needling is less effective.  That the shoulders lack flexibility can
contribute to breakage, however.   Compass point needling directly into and
around the crown and then pounding the crown back down to settle the felt
either with a small hammer or the back end of the voicing tool will create a
tonal gradient that will sweeten up that piano quite a bit.  Ultimately,
though, if the hammers are worn down to where they are overcentering (and to
where the wood core of the hammer is more in play) then you will have to
replace them.  

 

David Love

www.davidlovepianos.com

 

From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Greg Hollister
Sent: Thursday, June 21, 2012 8:46 PM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: [pianotech] broken strings

 

I am servicing a Young Chang grand with a history of string breakage in the
top 3 octaves of the piano. The hammers have never been shaped and are quite
flat . I'm going to restore the hammer shape but  I'm not sure that's the
whole story.  Obviously the pianist has been getting carried away with his
right hand, but are the strings themselves ever to blame? I've told the
music director that shaping and voicing the hammers may not be a cure all
for the breakage but that it will be worth doing in any case.  I guess I
just looking for some feedback as to whether I'm taking this in the right
direction.  I appreciate any help. 

Greg Hollister RPT

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