Of course "rolling the bass strings" or twisting them is the traditional remedy. One time I watched my teacher at a player piano where the bottom pump bellows prevented getting to the hitch pins. He simply lowered the string completely slack then pulled it up while "pounding" and the improvement was dramatic. He had taught me the "rolling" method so the next time I rolled the strings I compared simply lowering and pulling back to rolling. Rolling was better but not that much better at least for the effort involved. If the piano is in the shop I would roll the bass after I let them set limp for a few days or weeks. (For the imaginary reason that the soundboard might "breathe" a little bit) On site though it only takes 10 to 20 minutes longer to let them down and pull them right back up. I charge for the extra time. This is best done during a pitch raise when the customer should be calling you back in 30 days to 6 months since the tuning after letting them down is less stable. -----rm "Time is at once the most valuable and the most perishable of all our possessions." John Randolph (1773-1833); US political leader. ----- Original Message ----- From: Joel Jones <jajones2@facstaff.wisc.edu> To: Pianotech <pianotech@ptg.org> Sent: Friday, May 09, 2003 9:30 PM Subject: Bass string revival > List, > > Bass strings had coffee or soda spilled on them several years ago and they > were dead as a stone. No money for replacements. Becoming frustrated > listening for a pitch I decided to try a final fix. > > I began by pounding the key and lowering each string about 1/2 turn > until it was slack. Continuing to test blow the key a dozen times while > slack and continuing pounding I then pulled the string up to pitch. > > Presto the string had a live, full sound. However, I'm wondering: > > 1. What happened to the string to cause it to revive??? > > 2. Will this be a short term fix and the strings become dead a gain??? > > Anybody experienced this bass string revival? > > Joel Jones > Retired UW tech in Madison > -- > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives
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