<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.2912" name=GENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY> <DIV> <DIV class=Section1>             Had a string break in the low tenor during a pitch raise on a 1983 Everett console.  Decided to put on a universal string and leave it if it sounded OK.  (Would order custom string if it didn’t).  Measured the string on the tapered slot gauge and it said # 8, so that’s what I put on.  Wouldn’t pull up to pitch – it broke.  Have only had that happen maybe twice in 25 years.  Brand new strings can usually be pulled way over pitch and still not break.  So tried a # 8 ½  instead, thinking it’s meant to be at a higher pitch than the # 8.  Nope, it broke too!  <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>             Now, the winding on the original string is aluminum or nickel (I assume), not copper, but should that matter?  It’s the core wire that holds the tension, right?  I measured them all when I got home and the original string’s core wire is .037”, the # 8 measured .039”, and the # 8 ½ measured .038”, I believe.  Shouldn’t that be close enough?  Should I go back and try a # 9?   <o:p></o:p>             I’m going to send in the original and have a custom string made, but I’m wondering why the universals broke way before they were up to pitch.  No, I didn’t see any burrs, etc. on the upper plate bearing, pressure bar, etc. <o:p></o:p>             --David Nereson, RPT<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> P.S.  Why did they use aluminum or nickel wound for the two lowest tenor strings, when all the bass are copper?<o:p></o:p></DIV></DIV></BODY></HTML>