> Interesting. I would have thought much higher. Would certainly think > that pushing the elasticity of the wire to that extent, if it survives, > would do permanent damage to tone/sustain, and completely ruin a set of > bass strings. But, alas, I'm a piano tech, not a physicist (or a > composer). It depends on what the break% was at 440. A half semitone will increase the break% by about 4% in the small wrapped strings that are the most at risk. If the original scale was kept below 55%, it will likely be fine. If not, there's probably a chance of damage. I'd sure like to see those who consider pianos to be like radios or dimmable lights, that can be turned up or down to any extent on a random whim, held accountable for any resulting damage. Reality can be very inconvenient, so it remains negotiable. Even if the strings aren't damaged, that change on the plate load is still well over a ton above design load. Baldwin (accu-just) plates are pretty heavy, but the strings are typically a long way up the hitch pins. Maybe I'm getting cowardly in my old age, but I'm not so sure I'd care to do it. Hey, a restringing with smaller gage plain wire and a rescaled bass could get the piano 50 cents high at about the original tension at 440, and dodge the high break% in the small wrapped strings. Then they'd have a piano permanently and safely prepped for that piece, when it came around on the wheel again, or the performer could pay to have it strung back like it was after the concert. I like that option. Only the truly serious would go for it, and how many truly serious prepared piano composers and performers are there out there? Yea, I know - reality. Ron N
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