[pianotech] Question-Bass strings

[Richard Brekne]

Hi Mark

In my view Hex core is fundamentally flawed. It has been used for years 
by a few companies on a very short list. Grotrian Steinweg at the top of 
that list... But there are a couple issues.  It delivers a very 
different degree of inharmonicity and when pianos designed with round 
core wire have a set of hex core bass strings put on as replacement the 
result is always (IMHO) less then satisfactory.  There is another thing 
I've been wanting to get a discussion about that concerns all bass 
strings... but seems to hit hex core much more severely and earlier in 
life.  Bass strings seem to develop a lot of para-inharmonicity over 
time.  I have not measured this directly have noticed that new pianos 
have quite a bit less in general then older pianos,  replacement of a 
carefully calculated and spun set of strings alleviates nearly all the 
problem and hex core seems to suffer from this very much more then round 
core.

One of hex cores touted big benefits is that its supposed to be easier 
to wind over and less tendant towards string buzzes developing. I 
suspect that is in the end the major reason why a few factories use 
them. There is no inherent advantage soundwise.... quite the opposite if 
anything... at least in my book.



Cheers
RicB



    Greetings to the List,
    I have been wondering why some manufacturers use hexagonal steel
    wire as their core wire in making their bass strings and others use
    round steel wire? What are the reasons for using either type of
    steel wire as the core for making bass strings?
    Thank you,
    Mark