<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; = charset=windows-1252"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1141" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; = BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV> <DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: = black"><B>From:</B> <A title=HazenBannister@cs.com href="mailto:HazenBannister@cs.com">HazenBannister@cs.com</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A = title=pianotech@ptg.org href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Sunday, March 09, 2003 = 4:55 PM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Mobile bass = strings</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=arial,helvetica><FONT lang=0 face=Arial size=2 = FAMILY="SANSSERIF">Hi,<BR>  I know this topic comes up from = time to time:  how to carry around a whole set of universal bass = strings.  I would hope someone has a great new way that I don't know of.  = Also,if you use a piece of PVC pipe which I've read about,how would you be able to = extract a single string,and know which size it is,without removing all the = strings.I am  <BR>thinking about something like a small mobile file box,and = have each size separated,<BR>but would be worried about protecting the = strings from humidity and such.  <BR>Best,<BR>Hazen = Bannister</FONT></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>    This has been one of the = biggest bugaboos of servicing pianos in the home for me.  Ya gotta be prepared for = anything, just about, including breaking bass strings.  Yeah, you = can splice 'em, IF they break leaving a long enough length to tie a knot = in.  But sometimes they don't or they're very tubby sounding or just plain = dead, and many times it's impractical to order a custom made string and make = a return trip in a couple weeks just for a little spinet or old = upright.  </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>    So ya gotta carry a set of = universal strings around.  It's hard enough finding a suitable way to carry = them and keep them labeled, never mind protecting them from humidity, heat, = etc.  If they were custom strings, I'd worry about it more, but = they're universals -- sort of a stopgap measure.  I mean, what're you = gonna do, have a climate-controlled box that plugs into the cigarette = lighter?  Then what about overnight -- do you have to load 'em in and out of the = car every morning and evening just so they won't get too cold or too = humid?  I doubt it matters that much -- they're not = soundboards.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>    I used to keep them all = threaded by the hitchpin loops onto one of those little keyhole-shaped hooks that = opens and closes.  But the tags would get tangled and torn and come = off.  The old tags, like many things, were better than the new -- they were = heavy card stock with reinforced holes and stayed on and lasted quite a = while.  The new ones are just adhesive-backed paper and they tear off or wear = through and fall off too soon.  So I have to add a piece of scotch tape = around them as soon as I get them.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>    With all of them hooked onto = one loop, or ring, you have to loop the whole set into one big wreath and put them = in a shallow box at least 12" square, like an old movie reel box = or large film canister.   Or, as has been mentioned, store them all = straight in a long piece of PVC pipe.  But then the tag tangling problem, = plus having a long object in the car that might not fit unless the back = seat is folded down.  I gave up on keeping them all on one hook.  = Now I just leave them like the single replacements come -- wound into a = loop about 8" diameter.  I hate to throw 'em all loose on top of = each other, so I put them in order and tie a small rope through them.  = They still hook on each other a bit and don't really stay in exact order, = but it's "manageable".</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>    I keep one of each size in this = old movie reel box, and 2 or 3 each of the more commonly broken sizes, like = 3 through 6 or so.  Seems like 80% of my replacements are in the = mid- or upper- bass of consoles, spinets, and school = studios.</FONT> <FONT size=2> The real small ones, like 9 thru 12, are bundled = separately.  </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>    The longer, nicer strings for = larger grands hang from the rafters in my shop, straight = down, in the cloth bag that was supplied with them -- they get used so rarely, I figure I = don't need to keep 'em in the car.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>    Long post over what should be a = minor detail, but I would like to hear others' solutions for dealing with = the bass string storage/tagging/ordering/replacing hassle.  (If you = don't keep 'em on hand, the customer has to go without for at least 10 days' = ordering/shipping time).</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>    The suitcase with file folders = and dessicant sounds good.  Might try that.  </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>    --Dave Nereson, RPT, Denver</FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>