I did a video a few years back, in which we were on purpose, trying to see how far a bass string would go. The strings were under full tension. It was an upright, and the bottom was removed. The strings on average would shoot about 20 feet, some went farther. If i recall, the upper bichords went the farthest.
However, in a grand with the cabinet in the way, i fail to see how they would go far. Just put dents in the cabinet and bounce a little perhaps.
Obviously, removing tension and placing a clamp on the hitchpin is a good safety factor.
-chris
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A hunter's drumbeat steers the stampeding herd,
His belly growls in hunger to what he sees.
The mammoth aware blows his mighty trumpet,
But alas, the caveman tickles the ivories.
chernobieffpiano.com
865-986-7720
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Original Message:
Sent: 12-23-2017 17:46
From: Alan Eder
Subject: Puzzler of a lifetime
I've had a bass string break while being tuned. Shot out of the (grand) piano and put a substantial hole in a hollow core door several feet away. I shudder to think what that would have done to someone's face or torso, were they to be positioned in the flight path of a wound string suddenly seeking it's freedom.
As for keeping them on the hitch pin while while stringing, a small spring clamp (with heat-shrunk plastic pads on the jaws) works well, as do pieces of appropriately sized tubing slipped over the hitch.
Alan
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Alan Eder, RPT
Herb Alpert School of Music
California Institute of the Arts
Valencia, CA
661.904.6483
Original Message:
Sent: 12-23-2017 00:43
From: Michael Magness
Subject: Puzzler of a lifetime
My experience with breaking bass strings has been that for the most part they stay put, in grands. Between the agraffe and the damper most of the chance to go flying is absorbed! I did have a friend who was chipping a set to pitch, OK, a little above pitch when one went flying and embedded itself rather deeply in the drywall! I also use the vice grip trick, not ON the string just above it on the hitch pin which prevents it coming off or flying if it comes to that. In those instances where the concern is not marring the paint on the pin I find a small patch of leather or self adhesive felt serves well.
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Michael Magness
West Salem WI
608-786-4404
Original Message:
Sent: 12-22-2017 18:23
From: Susan Kline
Subject: Puzzler of a lifetime
Hi, Jon
<grin> I prevailed. I even took the map home. I was young, I was nearly broke. This kind of thing was easier.
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Susan Kline
Philomath, Oregon
Original Message:
Sent: 12-22-2017 16:10
From: Jon Page
Subject: Puzzler of a lifetime
That must have made for some interesting tuning...
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Regards,
Jon Page
Original Message:
Sent: 12-22-2017 15:31
From: Susan Kline
Subject: Puzzler of a lifetime
Ah, yes, certain instruments I call "ingrates."
I was tuning a Hamilton upright in a high school gym (actually in a horrid little closet space with a bare bulb, just off a gym where basketball practice was going on.) It was a minor pitch raise. I was up in octave five when there was a sharp noise and I felt a sting an inch above my left eye. One of the long tenor strings had broken at the tuning pin hole and this ungrateful piano had thrown the becket at me. And I wasn't wearing glasses.
This piano did have one other interesting aspect. Most of the bass section sounded like a kazoo. Someone had woven a purple mimeographed map of the world through the bass strings.
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Susan Kline
Philomath, Oregon
Original Message:
Sent: 12-22-2017 10:44
From: Larry Fisher
Subject: Puzzler of a lifetime
FWIW, when I have someone help me install new bass strings I'm at the tuning pins and my helper is at the hitch pins. Initially I put some tension on the string to hold it there. Then when I'm all through installing the entire set I have my helper get out of the way while I bring them up to tension for this very reason. The last few sets I've installed I've had the pleasure of having a view of a blue eyed cutie helping me ...... not that that has much to do with all this.
Early in my career I was struggling with a universal replacement on a dealer's floor and the string took a nasty flight out the end of the grand across the sales floor. From that point on I made sure nobody was standing anywhere near that end of the piano when I'd tune or pull strings up to tension.
I'd hate to fathom the extent of an injury should something like that make bodily contact.
Lar
3 more days to go and we all get another break from xmas music.
Original Message------
Aw c'mon Mr. Kelly. That bass string just wanted to go back to Florida and headed South out of the back of the piano with all the vigor it could muster.
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Karl Roeder
Pompano Beach FL
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