Dean, I agree. I started with Mapes when I lived in NY (at the time they were a local suppliers). I don't remember too many problems back then. After they moved to TN, there were overtones I didn't like, sometimes twangs (is that a word?), dead strings occasionally. Overall not happy with the sound. I tried Arledge a couple of years ago and never looked back. I also hear lots of good things about JD Grandt, but haven't tried them. Al Guecia ----- Original Message ----- From: Dean May To: 'Pianotech List' Sent: Tuesday, March 25, 2008 9:03 AM Subject: RE: rescale bass strings In my early years I used Mapes because that was all I knew. I was often dissatisfied with the tone results but figured it was just downbearing/soundboard/hammer problems. A couple of times I asked them to remake a section of strings that sounded especially dead and sure enough that section came to life. I learned about Arledge a few years ago and I've never looked back. I have been very happy with every set. There are probably other good makers out there as well. Dean Dean May cell 812.239.3359 PianoRebuilders.com 812.235.5272 Terre Haute IN 47802 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Mark Dierauf Sent: Tuesday, March 25, 2008 8:44 AM To: Pianotech List Subject: Re: rescale bass strings Even when I used to send them computer printouts with detailed wire sizes and lengths I found that they would routinely make changes to the core & wrap wire sizes, despite being admonished not to do so. I came to the conclusion that my business really didn't matter to them, so I went elsewhere. Too bad, because in other respects there service was first rate. - Mark Dierauf David Love wrote: My experience with Mapes is that if they have the scale in their data bank they use what they have rather than try and measure what you send them. I would be surprised if your original scaling ever crossed the threshold of consciousness. It's too bad, I'm sure your scale changes improved that M-it certainly does benefit from some modifications. BTW, couldn't you have just sent them back after it was clear that they hadn't done what you asked and then recalculated the thing again? David Love davidlovepianos at comcast.net www.davidlovepianos.com -----Original Message----- From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Mark Dierauf Sent: Monday, March 24, 2008 8:09 PM To: Pianotech Subject: Re: rescale bass strings Except that my version had 8 additional strings and double wrapped monchords. It was also (deliberately) not identified as an M scale, although I could see where an alert winder might have recognized that the lengths matched those of an M scale. I was being facetious when I said that they rescaled my samples, but they certainly did not duplicate either the original design or my samples. - Mark Dierauf David Love wrote: I doubt that was a rescaling. More likely they just produced the original scale for the piano. David Love davidlovepianos at comcast.net www.davidlovepianos.com -----Original Message----- From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Mark Dierauf Sent: Monday, March 24, 2008 9:19 AM To: Pianotech List Subject: RE: rescale bass strings Actually, Mapes does rescale, albeit to their own standards. I sent in a set from an S&S M that I had laboriously (and successfully) rescaled in the early 90's. These had been ruined when a student spilled some sort of liquid on them and I had meanwhile lost the spec sheet for the rescaled strings. I asked Mapes to copy them exactly and the new set came back with different core & wrap sizes. All the improvements I had made were lost, and the tenor wound strings (I had added 4 wound bichords) sounded so poorly as to be almost untunable. Now I only use them for individual string replacements on lesser quality pianos. - Mark Dierauf David Love wrote: Surprisingly, many are: Arledge, Sanderson, GC, JD Grandt, all makealterations to scales routinely. Only Mapes (that I know of) seems, as amatter of policy, to abide by the original designs. David Lovedavidlovepianos at comcast.net www.davidlovepianos.com -----Original Message-----From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On BehalfOf pianoguru at cox.netSent: Sunday, March 23, 2008 8:16 PMTo: Pianotech List; ilvey at sbcglobal.netSubject: Re: rescale bass strings Most string makers are not interested in "rescaling." They prefer to"duplicate" bass strings. If you really want rescaling, go to JamesArledge. His web site will tell you what information they need, or givethem a call to discuss what you want. I have no personal vested interest in Arledge strings, only experience withpositive results from his ventures. Frank Emerson -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/pianotech.php/attachments/20080325/eb952422/attachment.html
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