<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD W3 HTML//EN"> <HTML> <HEAD> <META content=text/html;charset=iso-8859-1 = http-equiv=Content-Type> <META content='"MSHTML 4.72.3110.7"' name=GENERATOR> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV><FONT color=#000000>List: from Sy Zabrocki    = </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#000000></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#000000>Beckstein, Bosendorfer, Grotrian and August = Forester still use the single string format. Meaning each string has it's own = hitch pin and loop. Of course the other method is the usual "one wire serves = as two strings" with one hitch pin. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#000000></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#000000>A month ago at the NAMM Show I roamed around scrutinizing practically every piano on the planet. It's unfortunate all = technicians can not attend this event. You feel like a kid in a candy = store. At first became aware of the single strings at Bosendorfer, then found them = also on the other German pianos. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#000000></FONT> </DIV> <DIV>The hitch pins appear to be slightly smaller and the wire loops are = tiny and precise. I questioned some of the German personnel on why they use = this type of stringing. They listed some advantages but admitted the advantages = were minor. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>No. 1--In a concert situation a string might break. The artist or = almost anyone on the scene could easily remove the broken string and concert = could go on. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>No. 2--Using single strings the scale designer can more easily = change wire sizes.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>No. 3--While stringing the wire length can be measured more = precisely to control uniform coils. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>None of these makers claimed this type of stringing made any = improvements in tone. Also, most German pianos do not use duplex scale. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Sy Zabrocki</DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#000000></FONT> </DIV></BODY></HTML>