FW: some days you get what you ask for

[Mark & Cinda Towne]

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Good morning all.

I would like to introduce myself.  My name is Mark Towne, and I am an
Associate Member here in sunny Las Vegas.  I look forward to informative,
educational, and thought provoking exchanges with members of this list.
Currently studying and prcaticing towards my eventual RPT exams.

In support of Mr. Ilvedson's post, I, too, have utilized duplicated strings
from Mapes (through Pianotek) for a 1928 Knabe/Ampico 5'1 here at the house.
Price was, IMHO, most reasonable and turn around time was just about 2
weeks.  They have worked out well and look smashing with the freshly pianted
frame.

Regards,

Mark S. Towne
Associate Member, PTG
Las Vegas, NV
  -----Original Message-----
  From: David Ilvedson [mailto:ilvey@sbcglobal.net]
  Sent: Monday, October 03, 2005 7:37 AM
  To: pianotech@ptg.org
  Subject: RE: some days you get what you ask for



  As a pain in the ass as it is to come back, I've quit using universals and
always mail the string to Mapes for duplicating.   It does cost the customer
more but, imho, it matches the other string much better.

  D.I...




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--
  Original message
  From: Piannaman@aol.com
  To: pianotech@ptg.org
  Received: 10/2/2005 6:39:31 PM
  Subject: some days you get what you ask for


  List,

  Friday was certainly an interesting day on the job.  First piano was an
old Erhard upright, a nice old box made in 1919, pretty good shape.  It had
a broken high treble string on it, which I'd been aware of, and I replaced
it no problem.

  Next piano, Acrosonic, circa 1950s.  Pitch raise, twang, G#2 wound bicord
snapped. A perfect candidate for one of the universal bass strings a lug
around.  As usual, spinning off excess copper was the most time consuming
part of this job.  Again, no real problem.

  I was thinking about how much I've improved in various repairs, thanks to
many tips gleaned from this list and elsewhere in the PTG.  This type of
repair was once something I dreaded, now it's just something I do in the
line of duty.  "But," I told myself, "don't get cocky.  How long's it been
since you've replaced a long wire in an understrung section of a piano?"  It
had been awhile.

  Which brings me to the next piano:  Steinway, a regular client, a nemesis
piano that always finds a way to lengthen the appointment beyond an
acceptable length.  A 1915 or so M re-whatevered badly a couple of decades
ago.  I was hoping for the best, but it was the usual 8-10 cent late-summer
pitch raise.  No problem, at least until I got to A3.  Twang.  The A#3-A3
wire snapped.  Went to the car, got stringing stuff including tube to get
string onto hitch pin.  In the failing light of the day, I got the job done,
but time would have been saved had I brought in my shop light so I could see
better to route the wire through the bridge pins.

  The upside:  3 strings on the day, no bloody finger tips.

  The weirdness:  Haven't had a string break in a few months.  Why did they
all gang up on me on one day???

  Tip #1:  putting some tension on the wire makes it MUCH easier to get the
string placed properly around the bridge pins in the understrung areas.

  Tip #2:  Lighting is a good thing when doing this sort of job!

  Thanks for reading,

  Dave Stahl

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