String tension (was : Birdcage pitch raise)

[Philippe Errembault]

So, no one knows !?? I'm quite surprised...
I didn't expect those to be such difficult question...

Philippe

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Philippe Errembault" <phil.errembault at skynet.be>
To: "Pianotech List" <pianotech at ptg.org>
Sent: Tuesday, July 10, 2007 11:56 AM
Subject: String tension (was : Birdcage pitch raise)


> Hello,
>
> I own one of these old birdcages, and I had no problems raising it to 
> A440,
> and it raised even more by itself once because of an humidity change, yet 
> I
> didn't observe any problem. (I'm talking here about ~50-70 cents changes)
>
> My observation, was that the string tension in this piano, was quite low,
> and that this could be the reason why this piano had no problem with the
> raise.
>
> I also observed that this piano is quite soft, even when pounding the keys
> it doesn't play really loud (No need for earmuffs for example). I wondered
> if this is related with the low tension ?
>
> Also, Terry Farrel said that string tension raised by design over the 
> years.
> It is something I deduced from my observations. but what is the point in
> raising the string tension ? Does it reduce inharmonicity ? or is there 
> any
> other reason ?
>
> Philippe Errembault
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Farrell" <mfarrel2 at tampabay.rr.com>
> To: "Pianotech List" <pianotech at ptg.org>
> Sent: Friday, July 06, 2007 4:39 AM
> Subject: Re: Birdcage pitch raise
>
>
>> The only thing you can do is inform the piano owner of the piano's 
>> potential in its present condition and how it will (or won't) fulfill a 
>> budding pianists needs. Sounds like you did that. After that, you do the 
>> work, notifying the owner of no guarantees on bandaid tasks, and collect 
>> the check. If you cashed the check before it plummeted 70 cents flat, I'd 
>> say you did good!
>>
>> I don't understand your point about English cheapo piano pinblock 
>> "design". Is it the fact that the upper speaking length termination is a 
>> bridge pin set in a wooden termination bar? If so, I would say that it is 
>> not a cheapo design. It is how many did that termination for many, many 
>> decades. I suppose it became a less-favored design as string scale 
>> tensions increased, but it is not an inherently "bad" design. Certainly 
>> on a modern piano the design would often see structural failure. But on 
>> Beethoven's pianos, it likely would have held up pretty well.
>>
>> Yes?
>>
>> Terry Farrell
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>>> Another fine example of English cheapo piano pinblock "design".
>>>
>>> I first tuned this something over a year ago. It had been bought for the
>>> couple's child by Grandad, and was 400 cents low, yes a major third.  At
>>> that pitch, it really was unplayable, sounding glassy and dreadful. I
>>> siuggested to the couple that if we were going to raise the pitch, it 
>>> might
>>> as well be to A440, as at least two tunings would be involved anyway.  I
>>> raised it to A440 and it seemed OK.  Last week they had me back.  It had
>>> sunk, very evenly, to 70 cents flat, where, I suggested, we should just 
>>> keep
>>> it. I tuned it at that pitch and it's OK.  The funny thing is, the 
>>> action is
>>> quite nice and even, except for some hammer bounce caused by very worn
>>> balance hammer leather.  We agreed that if the kid sticks at piano for
>>> another six months or a year, then it will be time to get him something
>>> better.
>>>
>>> But in the first instance, what would you have done folks? Refused to 
>>> tune
>>> the old thing and tell them to get another?  I did weigh up that option.
>>> But in the end, it came up to pitch with  nothing drastic happening, and
>>> they've had over a year's learning out of it.
>>>
>>> Regards,
>>>
>>> David.
>>>
>>
>>
>