<html> At 09:26 PM 08/23/2001 -0400, you wrote: <blockquote type=cite cite>Would it not be much more practical to just replace the string with new wire? If a string broke once, it for sure will break again in the future. True, you will have to go back to bring it up to pitch a few times, but in my estimation that is a much better solution than tying a new piece of wire to an old length that is at the end of its life. Another thought...If you are tuning an older piano, and you break a few strings, it is time to sell the customer a restringing job if the piano is worthy of it. More than likely, the tuning pins will be on the loose side also. Roy Czekay, Milwaukee </blockquote> If the string is still around the hitch pin and in the bridge pins on an old upright, one does not need to remove the action. On a grand. The cosmetic appearance is maintained by not having a shiny wire amongst the lot. There is less follow-up tuning due to less wire stretching (if you compress the knot sufficiently during tensioning).  No change in tone either from new wire. I have splices on the speaking length of bass strings holding for 20 years. I'd like to see you convince the owners of these restaurants to restring. They'll pay a bus boy to paint it black first. Splices have a place in your arsenal, Jon Page,   piano technician Harwich Port, Cape Cod, Mass. <a href="mailto:jon.page@verizon.net" eudora="autourl">mailto:jon.page@</a>verizon<a href="mailto:jon.page@verizon.net" eudora="autourl">.net</a> <a href="http://www.stanwoodpiano.com/" eudora="autourl">http://www.stanwoodpiano.com</a> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</html>