<HTML><FONT FACE=arial,helvetica><FONT SIZE=2>In a message dated 5/18/01 7:58:06 AM Central Daylight Time, blt@igc.org
<BR>(Benjamin Treuhaft) writes:
<BR>
<BR>
<BR><BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">The customer (a young concert pianist with long, thin, unmuscular arms)
<BR>has had dozens of broken strings. </FONT><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=3 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" FACE="Arial" LANG="0"></BLOCKQUOTE>
<BR></FONT><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" FACE="Arial" LANG="0">
<BR>This remark caught my attention because, as others have told you, the problem
<BR>is not unusual and often seems to defy logical explanation. There is a 15
<BR>year old boy who uses a Yamaha C6 at home (and right in my own neighborhood).
<BR> He is very slight of build with very skinny arms as you describe and very
<BR>shy. Yet, he has managed to break at least a dozen strings in the piano
<BR>which is about 6-7 years old.
<BR>These have been at random throughout the piano, both wound and treble or high
<BR>treble strings.
<BR>
<BR>Recently, I posted a question about wound strings breaking right and left in
<BR>a Young Chang grand used in a Gospel type church. The young lady who plays
<BR>the piano just could not believe that the *style* of playing had anything to
<BR>do with it. The dealer finally took over the problem as a warranty claim
<BR>after at least 10 wound strings had been replaced. I was glad to let that
<BR>one go. I was paid for all of my work but I felt that I was being blamed for
<BR>it. She said she thought I must be "tightening those strings too hard".
<BR>(She came to this conclusion when she watched me tune once and observed the
<BR>impact type technique with which I manipulate the tuning pins.)
<BR>
<BR>I've had other instances over the years of chronically breaking strings on
<BR>various makes, Kimball, Kawai and yes, Steinway. In each case, a customer
<BR>and/or the previous technician blamed the manufacturer and did not want to
<BR>accept the explanation that was offered.
<BR>
<BR>The solution: Restring (either partially or fully), file (or replace) the
<BR>hammers. Don't alter the regulation to deliberately give less power, the
<BR>pianist will only pound harder but do make sure that you don't have hammers
<BR>that very nearly block. If the piano is used with other very loud
<BR>instruments such as a drumset and amplified guitars and such, make sure the
<BR>pianist has a monitor which provides enough sound so that the pianist does
<BR>not feel the need to over play the instrument.
<BR>
<BR>Bill Bremmer RPT
<BR>Madison, Wisconsin</FONT></HTML>