[pianotech] U1 - stained bass strings

[David Stocker]

I love how the manufacturers say they've seen this on "one" other piano. I 
have seen staining on new piano strings over the entire course of my career 
on all kinds of pianos. The biggest question is: does it effect the tone?

If the customer is worried about how it will change the resale value, just 
how much does she think it will change the value in ten years? A hundred 
bucks? Fifty?  A thousand? I think the number of dings in the case will tell 
far more.

It may be much ado about nothing terribly important.

Dave Stocker, RPT
Tumwater, WA

--------------------------------------------------
From: "Rob Mitchell" <tpa2sfr at pacbell.net>
Sent: Monday, October 19, 2009 15:43
To: <pianotech at ptg.org>
Subject: Re: [pianotech] U1 - stained bass strings

> Thanks for everyone's replies on this.  I don't think it's a spill because
> the problem absolutely stops at the dampers -- the strings below the 
> dampers
> look fine.
>
> Yamaha said they had one other piano with a similar problem (a GB1 I 
> think).
> They think it came from a corrosive outgassing from contaminated Chinese
> sheetrock. I suppose the hammers and dampers could be soaking this stuff 
> up
> (or moisture for that matter).  But I'm still at a loss to explain why 
> only
> the top parts of the strings got attacked.  Perhaps because they get 
> handled
> more during the stringing process.
>
> The customer is already raising this as a warranty issue with the dealer 
> and
> Yamaha.
>
> Rob
>
> Mitchell Piano Service
> (415) 994-1030
> www.mitchellpianoservice.com
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On 
> Behalf
> Of David Love
> Sent: Monday, October 19, 2009 3:08 PM
> To: pianotech at ptg.org
> Subject: Re: [pianotech] U1 - stained bass strings
>
> Not necessarily, could be contamination of the string in the factory not
> necessarily the copper before the string was made.  Likely a spill in the
> piano would show up on other parts of the piano: plate, action, hammers,
> dampers etc.  At any rate, the point as far as Yamaha is concerned is that 
> I
> seriously doubt that this occurred in the customers home due to acid rain 
> an
> atmospheric disturbance or global warming.  Most likely some type of
> handling issue from the factory and if it qualifies as a warranty item 
> then
> the strings should be replaced.  Cleaning won't work.
>
> David Love
> www.davidlovepianos.com
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On 
> Behalf
> Of Bruce Browning - The Piano Tuner
> Sent: Monday, October 19, 2009 2:54 PM
> To: pianotech at ptg.org
> Subject: Re: [pianotech] U1 - stained bass strings
>
> Al,
> Contamination of copper wire in factory would wrap completely around the
> string, not just on one side as viewed. More likely a spill of some sort.
> Bruce Browning
> The Piano Tuner.
>
>
>>   I don't think it's from moisture or atmospheric contamination.  It's
>> some contaminant that probably occurred in the handling of the strings
>> in the factory or during the making of the strings themselves with the
>> copper wrap.  I doubt it will effect string wear or breakage (or tone).
>> However, putting alcohol on there certainly can.  If it really bothers
>> the owner call the dealer and tell them, maybe it's a warranty item.
>> Other than that, leave it alone, you can only make it worse.
>
>
>
>