Bass strings in Overdrive!

[Jim Coleman, Sr.]

Hi Brian:

The only other thing to do is get them to amplify the piano. The poor 
pianist just can't compete with todays amplified drums, organs and
instrumental soloists.

I assume that you have already attended to the obvious need to reshape
hammers and keep them softer. Sure, they will need to be replaced more
often than on a piano in a light use situation, but that's just more
business for you.

Jim Coleman, sr.

On Wed, 7 Apr 1999 btrout@desupernet.net wrote:

> 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.
> 
>