[pianotech] Restringing at Lower Tension

[William Ballard]

Thanks to all who replied yesterday. The project sounds quite  
promising, and once again confirms as sound, the instincts of my client.

On Aug 17, 2011, at 3:05 PM, Delwin D Fandrich wrote:
> If you do not wish to do the actual rescaling work you might consider
> working with a technician already experienced in the process. Your  
> client's
> desires are not all that unusual--a good share of the pianos I  
> rebuild these
> days end up with string tensions that are somewhat lower than the  
> originals.
> The results you client wants are not impossible to achieve. But for  
> the best
> results I'd strongly recommend that you actually measure the speaking
> lengths and work up an appropriate scale based on those measurements.

I've never done any scaling (although familiar with the basic  
concept), nor have I learned to use a sewing machine. So it will be  
done by someone who knows how.

Del, can this job be done simply on the basis of speaking lengths  
entered and formulae executed? (ie., by mail?) Or would the best job  
involve judgement calls, based on

1.) the rescaler being in the same room with the piano before tear- 
down, and/or
2.) the rescaler having in their experience one or more Stwy AI  
rescales?

This is the second 100+ year Stwy A I've dealt with for my client, in  
which the board had crown even (no trough under the bridge), front and  
back bearing at the bridge was fine, and the piano had nice sustain  
throughout (no weak octaves) even listening through 100yo materials.  
The first, a 1906 AII which I restrung with a pinblock, came out very  
strong, even when retaining the original hammers. In fact the initial  
sound of the fresh wire and original hammers was VERY bright. This  
maybe the reason he want to lower tension on the AI.

> Don't worry about turning the A1 into a square; they are apples and
> pomegranates. The A1 is capable of a smooth and balanced timbre that  
> even
> the best square could only dream about.

My sense of humor expressing nervousness about the idea. If he asked  
to turn the piano into a square grand, the first thing I'd do is to  
separate the board from the belly rail and let it flap in the breeze.

> You're right about the hammers. They will need to be relatively  
> light to
> avoid overpowering the scale. You'll also want something without a  
> lot of
> density.

David Love (among others) has made this point over the years. I was  
mainly interested in what the high action ratio would offer (greater  
magnification of the velocity range a pianist can apply at the front  
end).

Hmmmm… light and big (lots of air space between fibers). Like an Isaac  
(though he no longer appears in the Directory)? Density can be  
adjusted during the voicing, and there are plenty of light hammer sets  
around. (Among them, I'd  choose an Abel.)

Bill Ballard RPT
NH Chapter, P.T.G.
wbps at vermontel.net