[CAUT] Case of the mysteriously breaking treble strings

[Conrad Hoffsommer]

JeffO,

You didn't say _where_ they broke, did you?

Were the pins driven so far that the string rode up and over the lowest 
coil and broke at that point?



>-----Original Message-----
>From: Jeff Olson [mailto:jlolson@cal.net]
>Sent: 04 October 2005 22:44
>To: College and University Technicians
>Subject: [CAUT] Case of the mysteriously breaking treble strings
>
>Speaking of UFOs, I was having trouble identifying the cause for a
>stubbornly breaking treble string in the high treble of an older upright.
>
>It began with one string that broke twice.  The first time, I assumed I'd
>nicked it or something installation.  The second time, I wondered if it was
>hanging up on something.  But I'd cleaned and polished the pressure bar, and
>I didn't spot anything abrasive on the bridge or harp.
>
>Then, as I started chipping the piano to pitch, several more strings broke
>in the high treble (#13).  I decided to measure the wire, though it was
>coming fresh out of a new packet (Roslau), and was surprised that the
>labeled 13 was actually 13 1/2.  That seemed odd, but not likely to explain
>the breakage.  In any case, I switched to 13 -- actually micced it this
>time -- and the strings still broke.
>
>Then, finally, I figured it out.  Any ideas about what the "mystery cause"
>was?
>
>Best,
>
>JeffO
>



Conrad Hoffsommer
I tried to get a life once, but they were all out of stock.