Tied bass string, will it break?

[Clyde Hollinger]

Mr. Temerariousnot (Good grief where do you find these words?!) <G>,

You won't know if this string will tear again until you try it, which of course you have to do
and for which you need a good dose of temerariousness.  You can't leave it a quarter-step
flat.  If it tears, have one of those universal replacement strings handy (I keep a whole set
on hand although I don't like them very much), or, if the piano is worth it, send the old
string to a supplier to be duplicated.

I am remembering two things from my vast storehouse of experience (pooh!).  Once while tuning a
string a previous technician had knotted, it tore -- at the knot.  I replaced the string.  In
another instance I was trying to tune a piano from about 1860.  The plain wire was so brittle
that as soon as I tried to make a becket each little piece just broke right off.  Since the
piano wasn't worth saving they made a cozy little bonfire with it -- outside, of course!

Clyde Hollinger

Richard Moody wrote:

>
>         I am servicing an Emerson upright from 1890.  In raising to pitch a half step(to
> 438 hoping for 435) , one bass string broke.  The first single going down in the
> bass.  I tied it and have pulled it up to 1/4 step of its intended pitch.  However
> the tuning pin resistance feels like it is ready to snap again. Am I being a
> chicken, or will this string break?  (Core wire  #22+, tire wire, 22)
>         How many of you have tied bass strings only to have them break upon pulling them up
> to pitch?
>         Does anyone know if APSCO 24441 P.78  will fit?
>
>  ---ric temerariousnot---