Bass strings in Overdrive!

[btrout@desupernet.net]

Hi All,

I have a question,... well who doesn't?...

I've experienced two pianos (different name brands) with the same
problem.  They break bass string after bass string after bass string...

They are both very normal in the way they're strung, not excessive side
bearing at the bridge, not excessive angles of deflection at the
agraffes.  I service quite a number or other pianos of the same model
and none of them have this problem.

The thing they have in common is that they are both in (forgive me if I
don't quite say this in a politically correct way, I mean no disrespect)
black Baptist churches, and both get the living daylights pounded out of
them week after week.

Both pianos have had complete new sets of bass strings installed,
neither of which I did, but the strings broke just the same.

So I did the unthinkable, the unspeakable, the horrible and unforgivable
to one of them.  I regulated it so that the bass end of the piano has
the letoff set at about 1/2 inch from the strings, and a very heavy
aftertouch.  It's really not as obnoxious as it sounds to play, but it
worked wonders for breaking strings.  Instead of breaking a string or
two in a week or two, we're down to a string or two every quarter or so.

What I want to know,... what can I do to make the strings less likely to
break under such severe working conditions??  Could the string scale be
redesigned to be less vulnerable? as in a higher or lower tension?

Ok, ok, I'll tell you what they are... one is a Baldwin 5'? grand, and
the other is a Samick 5'? grand.  Baldwin hasn't been any real help, not
to say they didn't try.  They sent a new set of strings to install.  But
we still had the problem.  I hate 'deregulating' it to accomplish an end
result of saving the strings, but what else would you try???

I look forward to your input!

Thanks,

Brian Trout
Quarryville, Pa.