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<font face="Arial">Yes, Jurgen, it was the strings resting against
the coils of the next string that I was referring to. I have to
totally agree with your comments though! The straight line of the
strings is rather nice too. I just got annoyed because I had to
fit two new strings and felt that having all the strings resting
aagainst the coils of their neighbours complicated things! <br>
<br>
I had obtained two pairs of strings, so as to replace both the
strings in each of the two bichords that had a broken string. But
having fitted one new string in each, I found that the sound of
the two notes with one-old-one-new was OK, which must also, I
guess, say something for the quality of the 1880s strings. <br>
<br>
I replaced all the hammer butt notch felts on this piano, as many
were worn through to the wood, and at the same time replaced 28
broken hammer return springs (the kind in the hammer butt), as
well as fitting new damper felts, and the action is nice and quiet
now for its age. Happily the key bushings are not too worn or
noisy. (I know, I know, why not replace ALL the hammer butt
springs. But that bit was done as a kinda favour, and the
remaining ones seemed good, I plied them all vigorously and none
broke).<br>
<br>
In general I have gotten lucky in the past with upright damper
felt replacement, and found that they all seated well and worked
well with little adjustment. This old Bechstein was different!
It's made me more cautious about doing upright damper felts again!<br>
<br>
What's interesting with this old Bechstein, and a few others of
the same vintage I have tuned, is that I've been able to compare
them with some brand new Bechsteins, and to me they same to belong
to what I might call the same tone quality "family", as if the
designers 130 years ago and today, were aiming for a similar
result. <br>
<br>
In general, then, do you design folks think its OK to have strings
resting against the coils on neighbouring strings?<br>
<br>
Best regards,<br>
<br>
David.<br>
<br>
<br>
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