wire curve

[Michael Jorgensen]

Ron,
    String curvature force orientation, microscopic as it is, affects
the speaking length.  Any factor bearing on the speaking length and
therefore motions of a piano string is usually serious.  Consider the
huge affects resulting from micro changes in hammers, terminations, or
phasing.  I admit this is strictly conjecture and hypothesis and not
tested but it should be considered seriously.  
    Has any piano company ever strung a piano where the strings have
never been coiled.  i.e. cut in long pieces and shipped in pipes? 
(Might double the low price of wire).  Who knows, in twenty years you'll
have to carry twenty or so pipes on your car.
-Mike


     .Ron Nossaman wrote:
> 
> At 07:32 AM 3/2/99 -0500, you wrote:
> >Hi All,
> >    Stringing where the curves are mixed horizontal and vertical modes
> >look very unlevel before chipping, therefore require more leveling at
> >pitch.
> 
> * Do they? Have you tested this?

Haven't tested it, just observed it.  
> 
> >Also wonder if it increases the tendency of some to climb
> >bridge pins.
> 
> * I very strongly doubt it. I still maintain that strings don't climb bridge
> pins, but that the string crushes the bridge cap edges by wood expansion of
> the bridge while being held down by the pin. I also still maintain that a
> string that appears to be up a bridge pin is still resting on the center of
> the bridge.
> 
> >Could it be related to the ability of some unisons to
> >couple better, i.e same variances between prompt and aftersound pitch,
> >i.e resulting in more sustain?
> 
> * Possibly, but it should be a fairly easily measurable cause and effect
> phenomenon, shouldn't it? For all the traffic given to the curve orientation
> concept, I've never heard of any evidence to this effect.
> 
> >A string from an 80 year old piano
> >still bends when removed so therefore it is a force acting on the string
> >and thus affecting the tone.
> 
> * The tone is possibly affected by this on some level, also by microscopic
> differences in bridge notching, hammer surfacing, hammer hardness, string
> leveling, bridge pin tightness, soundboard impedance, humidity level,
> temperature, and dust accumulation. The point is that it doesn't seem to be
> a big enough factor to be above the threshold of the subliminal.
> 
> >
> IMHO there are some affects which should
> >not be dismissed only because no scientific testing has been done.
> >-Mike
> 
> * Nor should they be assumed, and for the same reason.


> 
>  Ron