Baldwin SD-10 with a lot of strings breakage in the treble

[Roger Jolly]

Hi Jean-Marc,
                 I would think the hammers are the main problem. But the
amount of stress that has already taken place on those strings.  I would be
inclined to restring the treble at the same time. that should be good for
another 5-7yrs in a heavy practice studio.
Heavy deep needling the lower shoulders of those hammers, to give the
shoulders some flex will help a little.  But most of the older strings are
all ready work hardened.

Make sure the let off is 1/16", and not too close.

Keep the hammers well voiced down, and the hammer shape slightly pointed.
Hard to describe on paper.

Regards Roger


At 07:30 AM 4/10/02 -0400, you wrote:
>Dear group,
>
>I am the piano tech at the Université de Montréal. The faculty has 125
>pianos and one of them a Baldwin SD-10 which is 27 years old is a very
>sensitive piano for string breakage in the treble (from string gage 15 and
>up, around G6). This piano is in a small recital room. Almost every two
>weeks or so I have to replace one or two strings. This piano was rebuilt in
>1991 by a very good rebuilder. I know this piano since 1995. The action is
>in good regulation and have Abel hammers (which need to be reshaped or
>replaced). I would like to have some feedback on this problem. I checked the
>capo system which is characteristic to Baldwin (hard greyish metal attached
>to the capo with allen screws), especially the place where the strings pass
>under and the surface seem smooth and round (because all the strings break
>under the capo exactly in this round aera).
>
>Iwould like to know if any of you have encounter this problem and if you
>found a cure (solution) for this illness.
>
>Thanking you in advance for your replies,
>
>Jean-Marc Beauchamp, RPT
>piano tech, Université de Montréal
>
>
>
Roger Jolly
Balwin Yamaha Piano Centres.
Saskatoon/Regina.
Canada.