Weird Strings

[Roger Jolly]

Hi Terry,
         Bite the bullet and replace the strings, the original bass strings
were not that good to start with. The time you spend trying to
unsuccessfully 'fudge' the strings will drive you nuts. Just try to get the
cost of the strings from the customer if possible?
One trick that can help. Remove the string, and whip it on the floor
several times, it will knock all the dirt from the winding and loosen it a
little. Reinstall with a full twist.
Let us know if it works.
Regards Roger



At 09:51 PM 4/24/99 -0500, you wrote:
>Hi list,
>
>I have just finished reconditioning a 1948 40" Willis Console. This included
>new plain wire, new tuning pins and a new bass bridge as the old one was
>split wide open.
>
>I re-used the original bass strings. After bringing the piano up to pitch it
>became evident that some of the bass strings were dead sounding and one had
>a very strange beating in it. I put an extra twist in the dead sounding
>strings. This made the strings more lively but produced a noticeable beating
>at the 5th partial in these strings. All are bichords. These strings beat at
>the 5th partial 3-4 times per second. The beats cannot be tuned out.  
>
>The lowest string is the right hand string of F#2. The left hand string does
>not exhibit this beating. Other notes affected are G2, and D#3 which is
>located on the lower end of the treble bridge. Both strings in the last two
>notes are affected.
>
>I cannot say whether or not these notes exhibited this beating before the
>piano was disassembled as the bass bridge was split wide open and the piano
>was untuneable. 
>
>Short of replacing these strings, does anyone have any ideas as to how I
>might eliminate these beats? Has anyone come across a similar problem.
>
>Thanks in advance
>
>Terry Beckingham
>PTG Associate     
>
>
Roger Jolly
Balwin Yamaha Piano Centres.
Saskatoon/Regina.
Canada.