<HTML><HEAD> <META charset=UTF-8 http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1106" name=GENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff"> <DIV> <DIV>In a message dated 7/11/2006 3:58:11 PM Pacific Daylight Time, michelle@cdaustin.com writes:</DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid"> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Concerning loosening the bass strings to get them out of the way, would this be a problem on an old piano such as the one I worked on?  The strings are ancient and I don’t even want to breathe on them if I don’t have to.</SPAN></FONT></P></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style">Amen Michelle, and if you go prepared, you shouldn't have to. Once your kind assistant has made your string-getter-behinder, a few extra props will make it all work. Someone suggested a Vise-Grip for holding the string on the hitch pin - the hardware store should have one with a pointy nose, which is worth the price on one job. Also, once the string is on the hitch, it can be a little tricky weaving it onto the bridge. You just need a string hook to pull up over the bridge pins, and a hammer shank to push down on the string above (or below) the bridge while you are lifting over the second bridge pin. You can do the upper or lower bridge pin first, whichever gives you more maneuvering between bass strings.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style"></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style">If you use the dummy-pin method, you will only be turning the pin out 1 turn max, and if you muff it, you can do it again without tearing up the block.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style"></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style">Finally, if one of the tuning pins is very close to the pressure bar, you may want to </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style">  put the wire onto the hitch pin, </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style">  measure and cut your string (both sides), </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style">  remove the string from the hitch while keeping it from straying too far with the Vise-Grips, </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style">  make the first coil & </FONT><FONT face="Bookman Old Style">install it on the pin closest to the pressure bar, </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style">  put the string back on the hitch & bridge, </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style">  then make the second coil.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style"></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style">Good luck,</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style">Bob Davis, RPT, UT grad (Mus. '68)</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style">Stockton, CA</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>