Unstringable C8, was Steinway 78183

[Delwin D Fandrich]

| -----Original Message-----
| From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org 
| [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Greg Graham
| Sent: October 06, 2008 6:53 PM
| To: pianotech at ptg.org; l-bartlett at sbcglobal.net
| Subject: Unstringable C8, was Steinway 78183
| 
| Les, 
| 
| Did you measure the speaking length?  

| .... 
| The C8 speaking length on this one is 2.5 inches.  I checked 
| a few other pianos in the vicinity, including a S&S D, and 
| found 2 inches for no. 13 wire at C8.  

| ....
| I don't know if it is just too long a speaking length, or too 
| much string angle, or a combination.  I only know it doesn't 
| work as is.  
| 
| Any suggestions?    
| 
| Greg Graham
|

I've measured the speaking length of C-88 on many of these pianos. It varies
quite a bit from one piano to the next but I've found them as long as 63 mm.
Using 0.030" (#12 1/2) wire this gives a string tension of approximately 223 lbs
(101 kgf) which is about 80% of the breaking strength of most music wire.

You might try using (if you're not already) Mapes International Gold wire which
has a slightly higher breaking strength than most. You might get it to hold. At
least for a while. Until someone comes along and tunes the piano with a slightly
greater than normal stretch.

This is, at best, a patch. What you (or somebody) really needs to do is recap
the bridge and reduce the speaking length to something a bit more reasonable.

Del
Delwin D Fandrich
Piano Design & Manufacturing Consultant
620 South Tower Avenue
Centralia, Washington 98531  USA
Phone  360.736.7563
Cell  360.388.6525
Fax  360.736.5239
<mailto:del at fandrichpiano.com>