<HTML><HEAD> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.2668" name=GENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY> <DIV> <DIV><FONT face="MS Sans Serif" size=2>Absolutely not! Avoid removing spinet actions like your sanity depended on it. An exception,  maybe, would be a Thayer Inverted Sticker types which are relatively rare. Yes it makes string replacement easier if it's out but it's such a hassle tying up all the stickers, removing dampers near the plate struts (usually) and just ooh, aw, icky-pooh all around.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="MS Sans Serif" size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face="MS Sans Serif" size=2>The secret (well, MY way, anyway) to doing it without removing the action is  a large safety-pin. put the pin through the loop-eye of the replacement bass string and clip it closed around a string adjacent to the one being replaced. Then you can slide the thing down to the bridge without it going wandering through the works and getting tangled up in other strings etc.  First use a hemostat or small Vice-Grip pliers to secure the top end of the string somewhere near the pin it's headed for--you don't want it to fall or go wandering, either. Then slide the loop down, as mentioned. Unhook the pin (hang on to that bass string) and thread the string onto the hitch pin and bridge pins. Use hemostat or large electrical clips (teeth filed off) to secure it to the hitch pin and bridge so it won't flop off while you are dealing with the coil and pin at the top.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="MS Sans Serif" size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face="MS Sans Serif" size=2>For the new person at stringing, a little bitter experience most of us have had: Make sure the top part is through the agraffe or under the capo or under the pressure bar if any of those are present in the piano. And even if it is just the simple upper-termination-pin-in-the-plate-thingy-what-are-those-actually-called-anyway, make sure everything is in its place—and stays there—as you bring it up to pitch. Also, take your time bringing up tension so that stuff stays in place but also because it is MUCH easier to make a nice neat coil the first time than it is to loosen and redo a coil that has looped all over itself, gotten on the wrong side of the becket, or otherwise been a stinker. All of which is exacerbated by the heavy core wire of the bass strings, especially the singles.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="MS Sans Serif" size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face="MS Sans Serif" size=2>Now if that didn't scare you off, go for it. It's really not a bad job at all.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="MS Sans Serif" size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face="MS Sans Serif" size=2>Plain wire strings can also be done with the action in, in almost all pianos and situations. But you will need the old brake line tool (cheap, easy to make) or one from a supply house/tool maker (not so cheap). Put this phrase in a Google search, for starters on that: <STRONG><EM>brake line (string OR stringing) site:www.ptg.org</EM></STRONG></FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> <DIV>Alan Barnard</DIV> <DIV>Salem, Missouri</DIV> <DIV> </DIV></DIV></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid"> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt Arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV> <DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A title=toddpianoworks@yahoo.com href="mailto:toddpianoworks@yahoo.com">Matthew Todd</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To: </B><A title=pianotech@ptg.org href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">Pianotech</A></DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> 07/09/2005 12:51:26 PM </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Spinet Bass String</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV><FONT size=2> <DIV>Hello all,</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I will be practicing bass string replacement on a spinet (using universal strings).  Is it necessary to take the action out like I would in a upright, or can I just go for it?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Thanks!<BR><BR>Matthew</DIV> <P>__________________________________________________<BR>Do You Yahoo!?<BR>Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around <BR>http://mail.yahoo.com </FONT></P></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>