Dang it.

[keys60]

Snapped my first string during a pitch raise. Dang it. I was batting a thousand. Oh well. It happens.

[pianisten1989]

Congrats! It somehow feels good, doesn't it?

[perfect_pitch]

Congrats! It somehow feels good, doesn't it?

Are you nuts??? It took me 5 bloody weeks to get the string replicated and re-fitted...

5 Bloody weeks! Couldn't play piano during that time - almost went insane (literally)

[silverwoodpianos]

Not sure why one cannot play the piano with a string missing. Usually treble wire can be replaced immediately. Bass strings take a couple of weeks as they are a special order.

Pitch raising demonstrates neglect. The instrument is not kept up to pitch with regular tunings. This sometimes allows the string to become frozen in place due to corrosion or malformation of the wire. Often times the wire will fracture. 

[keys60]

This particular piano, a 40" Story and Clark from the mid 70's, was in storage for years (maybe 10?). Not sure of the climate control either. Then moved to the house recently. The action and hammers look lightly used. The first phase of the raise (thanks again, Dan) went well although this piano was down way over 100 cents. No string breakage there. But the second phase, I snapped F#7. The top 2 octaves were down 60-70 cents again. Its the middle and right string of the trichord, luckily. I removed it, told the customer, it was late and we agreed on its replacement in a few weeks when I come back. The piano actually sounded pretty good when I left and my customer was quite satisfied. I love understanding customers. The F# still has one string to play on for now and her kid doesn't play up that high yet anyway.
Ok. Here's the question for you Dan if you don't mind. I have done some restringing with my old mentor as well as my own old Baldwin, yet am still not "expert" in the field.
Could you tell me the gauge of wire for that piano and note? I don't have the Guide to Restringing yet although I plan on getting it. I figured I'll just replace it instead of splicing since its such a high frequency and I'll order a 1/3 lb. spool. I'd really appreciate it if you can but will understand if you don't.
Thanks.
Curtis

Oh. As for being nuts, I've been quite lucky so far as strings breaking for a pitch raise is fairly common. I guess I broke my proverbial cherry!

[pianisten1989]

Are you nuts??? It took me 5 bloody weeks to get the string replicated and re-fitted...

5 Bloody weeks! Couldn't play piano during that time - almost went insane (literally)

Yeah, in that sense it sucks. But come on, didn't you feel any sort of happiness when you broke your first string? (Then, when it comes to the second and third, and so on, it just sucks, cause it ruins so much) Maybe I'm just crazy...

[keys60]

Well actually, this was my second string. The first was on my own piano when I was just starting to learn. A new bass string. Replaced it. This is the first customers string and it was definitely due to a neglected piano, not carelessness.

[perfect_pitch]

Yeah, in that sense it sucks. But come on, didn't you feel any sort of happiness when you broke your first string?

Not really... because it's still bloody well out of tune and I had it re-strung 5 months ago.

Sure it's a great achievement - but that's outweighed by the sound of your piano being dodgy for several months.

[silverwoodpianos]

 Now you have some knowledge of how a small instrument reacts to a pitch raising when off that far. If you pitched in octaves like we discussed earlier, this allows the bridgework and soundboard to form to the equal pressure applied. As the treble wire is of smaller diameter, you can see how the changes displace the weight more in that end of the instrument.

No 40” uprights here but I have a 42” late model Estey. Actually in a 70’s instrument the size should be stamped or written on the bridge or plate. In the top octave you are pretty safe with size 13.0.

Not too important up that way but if you were closer to the center of the register replace the wire asap as playing the piano with only one wire there will stretch the hammer flange a little. Up top though there is little use of the keyboard.

[keys60]

Thanks Dan.
Yes. I did tune the C octaves first, then the fifths, fifths of the G etc. etc. and it came out quite well. Let it go for 2 weeks, then performed the regular tuning for the second time. The bass and mid section were pretty fairly to pitch but the top 2 octaves dropped a lot. The piano sounded pretty darned good when I left the second time around. The student doesn't even venture near the last octave, it was late and I need to order some wire so the mom was satisfied with the job and the explanation.

I'm getting a lot of these freebies and neglected small pianos as well as some serious students with higher quality and a few MM teachers (as well as my own daughters teachers O). Business is ok and I really don't want more (roughly 8-10 tunings per month average) because it is not my career job.  These little junkers can be a little depressing but they seem to be the bread and butter. Can't knock them on the business end and the customer is thrilled when the finally sound ok.

Now I know why my mentor had me tuning my spinet a lot more than my new Walter. He told me that's what the average homeowner has. Grandmas old clunker.

I'm going to kick it up a notch when my daughter enters Indiana U. in September and I have more time to dedicate towards the craft instead of piano and cello lessons 3 times per week. More PTG meetings and more studying.

Thanks again for the tip.


Curtis