String spacing problem

[Barbara Richmond]

Hi Paul,

I believe the original problem was that there wasn't enough room for the damper felt to fit in between the strings.  That's a good enough reason to move strings.  Yes, it would mean the hammer(s) should be re-surfaced, etc.  It can be done fairly quickly and is not a big deal if the customer wants things right.

I routinely fit hammers to strings or level strings while tuning--in both grands and verticals.  The problem is easy to hear while setting unisons--it's that twang at the beginning of the attack.  It might be mistaken for false beats by some folks because it's impossible to get a good, clean sounding unison.

Barbara Richmond, RPT
near Peoria, Illinois



  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: paul bruesch 
  To: Pianotech List 
  Sent: Sunday, October 28, 2007 10:29 PM
  Subject: Re: String spacing problem


  When I find strings touching each other like that, I always look at the grooves in the hammers before doing anything. Generally the grooves match the current position of the strings, so I leave bad enough alone. Aside from the possibility of pitching a filing job, isn't that the best (non-)solution?  If you space the strings properly, you'll find new felt for at least one of them, meaning the other two won't sound at all. Of course striking one string with "new" felt and a properly shaped impact point might sound better than slamming all three with that flattened spot. 

  Paul Bruesch
  Stillwater, MN


  On 10/28/07, Bruce Dornfeld <bdornfeld at earthlink.net> wrote: 

    Sorry this is a very late response, but there is another thing you may want to consider.  If the string spacing is a problem in the whole area, perhaps tightening the screws for the pressure bar would help.  You can get an idea if the pressure bar is too loose in this area by using a simple tool to compare the angle in different ranges in the piano.  A spinet hammer shank or small screwdriver blade will fit up next to where the string comes out of the pressure bar.  If the bottom end of the tool (sticking out towards the keys)comes closer to the strings in this area compared to others, tightening the pressure bar may help.  I find this problem most often near the bass string end of the pressure bar, where the trichord wedge dampers are also used.  I usually leave the strings at full tension if I can.  You know the bar is moving when you hear the pitch change.  Those pressure bar screws are sometimes too hard to turn at al! l wi! thout lowering the string tension.  You do not want to break one off.  The best time to find this problem is before doing a pitch raise.  Tightening the pressure bar screws will help bring the pitch up too!


    Bruce Dornfeld, RPT
    bdornfeld at earthlink.net
    847-498-0379




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