[CAUT] Can't hear the forest for the trees

[Ed Sutton]

It sounds like you are describing a longitudinal partial. It cannot be made to go away. To test, lower the pitch of the string a little. A loud longitudinal partial will not change pitch when you lower the string. People have put up with this sound for decades. If you don't notice, you don't notice. 

Arledge knows how to wind a string in a way that avoids the longitudinal partial.

Ed S.
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: maxpiano 
  To: caut at ptg.org 
  Sent: Saturday, August 15, 2009 10:26 AM
  Subject: [CAUT] Can't hear the forest for the trees


  I have a feeling like I am dealing with a question similar to "yow-yowing" bass strings: a sound that will only go away upon replacing strings.

  The piano in question is a 1924 M&H Ax3 with a few individual bass strings where one high harmonic "pokes its head out."  At least that's what I hear when the owner asks me to listen to his piano.  His regular technician has not only tuned and regulated, but has also voiced the piano.  That technician is a close friend, a man I respect, who is better on voicing than I am, but claims he cannot hear what the customer complains about.  To mix metaphors, I would say the technician hears the forest, the customer cannot hear the forest for the trees--that little pin-prick of sound that he claims destroys the usefulness of the piano.  In the past I have noticed the same thing among the wound trichords of a Steinway D, at a college where the music faculty was totally unaware of the sound.  They heard the forest, I was aware of one tree.

  Back to the M&H--I heard it on several bass notes, and in each case it was only one string of the bichord.  I opened my big fat mouth and suggested replacing the bass strings (thinking of using the best available), but forgetting that I have gotten out of that work, turning all such requests over to of all people, this owner's technician.  Now I have the owner after me to replace the bass strings.

  What is the chance the problem would be solved by moving the hammer of the offending note a mm or so in or out, to change the place where it hits the string?  Any other suggestions?

  I sure don't want to spoil a friendship with a colleague.

  Bill Maxim



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