Bass strings

[Stéphane Collin]

Hello everyone.

I had some Hellerbass strings for a 7' Bechstein piano.
Hellerbass recommended one half (180°) to maximum one (360 °) twist for all
single wound strings, and NO turn for the last three bass strings which were
double wound.  As the second winding is in opposite direction than the first
one, twisting would tighten one winding while untighting the other.
With this set, I was also a bit disappointed with the sound, but after two
or three days of stretching and a few consequent tunings, the sound became
more than satisfactory, and I more than happy.

Before changing the set bass strings, I tried on the same piano to get some
brilliance in the few dead ones, and went up to 5 full turns.  Brilliance
did come in, but at the cost of severe inharmonicity.  So I decided to
change the whole set.

Stéphane Collin
(Brussels Belgium)

----- Original Message -----
From: "D.L. Bullock" <dlbullock@att.net>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Tuesday, May 21, 2002 5:34 AM
Subject: Re: Bass strings


> I once had an apprentice who installed a set of bass strings and there
were
> several that sounded incredibly bad, tinny, and buzzy.  I checked the side
> the tied loops were kicked up on against the hitch pins and discovered
that
> the bad ones were cocked up backwards to those that sounded good.  I took
> one loose and showed him that the bad sounds were caused by the strings
> being twisted the wrong direction.  The winding should be twisted to be
> tightening it.  The twist goes in the direction the end of the winding is
> pointing.  They must all be twisted the same direction and the same
amount.
>
> Our shop uses three twists.  It gives the best sound and I am leery of 4
or
> more for fear of breakage of the string or the loop.  I would be
interested
> in whether anyone uses more than that and what is the result.
>
> D.L. Bullock
> www.thepianoworld.com
> St. Louis
>
>