Unstringable C8, was Steinway 78183

[Paul McCloud]

Some years ago, I had the identical unfortunate experience with a S&S model
S.  I couldn't keep strings on the last few notes.  I finally called
technical support for said company, and was surprised to hear that in some
of the model S's the bridge was not made properly, and the string length is
too long.  I had to settle on tuning the strings flat on the last 3 or 4 
notes.  
	Paul McCloud, RPT
	San Diego 

Paul McCloud
Service Technician for PianoSD.com
www.pianoservsd.com 
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> [Original Message]
> From: Greg Graham <grahampianos at yahoo.com>
> To: <pianotech at ptg.org>; <l-bartlett at sbcglobal.net>
> Date: 10/06/2008 6:53:17 PM
> Subject: Unstringable C8, was Steinway 78183
>
> Les, 
>
> Did you measure the speaking length?  
>
> Dear fellow listers: What is the "normal" speaking length for C8 in a
Steinway S?
>
> Amazing coincidence.  I was working on a Steinway S, s/n 48xxxx, last
week which was missing the top shared string of C8.  I replaced it with no.
13 wire, and it broke at about A#7 in pitch while pulling it up.  So,
assuming it was me, I tried it again.  Bang!  Broke at the V-bar.  
>
> I shoe-shined the v-bar to remove grooves and tried again.  Bang!  Broke
at the v-bar. 
>
> I tried no. 12.5 wire, with graphite at the bearing points.  Bang!  This
time at the bearing between the tuning pin and the v-bar.
>
> I tried no. 12 wire.  With squinty eyes and going very slowly, I pulled
it up to within about 20 cents of C8 and the pitch stopped rising even
though I was moving the pin.  So I left it flat.  
>
> John Travis' "A Guide to Restringing" shows 12.5 wire for B7 and C8 for
an S.  The plate of this 20 year old, factory original S is clearly marked
13.  
>
> 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.  
>
> The v-bar on this S curves down visibly at the right end, which appears
to increase the wire angles on both sides of the v-bar, getting worse as
you go from about A7 to C8.  The left string of C8 is holding at pitch, but
had been replaced by someone else earlier.  
>
> 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
>
>
> > ------------------------------
> > Date: Mon, 06 Oct 2008 18:16:39 -0500
> > From: Leslie Bartlett <l-bartlett at sbcglobal.net>
> > Subject: Steinway 78183
>
> > A little help please.  Today I attempted to tune the above mentioned 
> > piano. When i arrived the highest string on B7 and the first strand on 
> > C7 were missing.  As I moved up through B7 to the remaining strands of 
> > C8, the two remaining strands were at least 500 cents low.  I slowly 
> > pulled them up, and the string broke at about A7. ...
>
> > #13 wire was specified on the plate as going down to D7....
>
> > However help me please- I think the gauge of the wire was just to large 
> > at B7/C8. Can anyone give me sage advice.   
> > 
> > Thanks
> > les bartlett
> > houston
> > 
> >