CAUT

  • 1.  Mapes Gold wire for Yamaha restring?

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 09-03-2015 10:49

    Decades ago, when my school acquired a few dozen Yamahas, the manufacturer recommended using Roslau wire for string replacement, stating that it was closer in characteristics to the treble wire that Yamaha uses (or used at that time, anyway). I have followed their advice and used Roslau for individual treble wire replacement, although I don't know if one or the other (or both) wires have changed in any way since then.

    I am considering restringing a Yamaha with Mapes Gold instead of the Roslau that I have used thus far. If you have done this before, I would be interested in your take on the results. Roslau is nice for restringing in as much as it seems to be more malleable than some other common wires, and the tunings tend to stabilize a bit faster. But if better sound is to be had (or even a different, but also desirable sound), I'm certainly willing to work harder for it.

    Thanks,

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    Alan Eder, RPT
    Herb Alpert School of Music
    California Institute of the Arts
    Valencia, CA
    661.904.6483
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  • 2.  RE: Mapes Gold wire for Yamaha restring?

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 09-04-2015 14:37

    Alan, I would PROBABLY stick with Roslau. At Texas Tech, our string stock has always been Mapes (looking closer after this post-yes, it's Mapes Gold). Never had any real issues, but we do have   a Yamaha C1 -EXTREMELY heavy usage!- that is a real string breaker. Only had one string break on it this year, so it's much better. BUT, now that you mention this, I just may try some Roslau on it! My guess is that the sound difference would be minuscule either way-but just my opinion as I have no data to back this up.  Perhaps others do, one way or the other.

    Kevin


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    Kevin Fortenberry
    Registered Piano Technician
    Lubbock TX
    806-778-3962
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  • 3.  RE: Mapes Gold wire for Yamaha restring?

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 09-05-2015 00:13

    I think the wire drawing plant is across the street from the string winding plant. I will ask Andy.

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    Edward McMorrow
    Edmonds WA
    425-299-3431



  • 4.  RE: Mapes Gold wire for Yamaha restring?

    Posted 09-05-2015 00:23
    Well, that's certainly a relief.
    Ron N




  • 5.  RE: Mapes Gold wire for Yamaha restring?

    Posted 09-05-2015 11:05

    Roslau! Yes!! I always use it here in the UK. I used it to restring my own S&S 'A' and am delighted I did so. Note: there are two types of Roslau - the Blue Label  (which I use consistently) which is shiny and polished and available in 1/2 sizes and the Red Label which is Plated and available in 1/2 sizes (like the Blue) Maybe your particular location of the Yamaha 7 calls for the Red to withstand humidity changes. Just make yourself up a stringing chart by using a micrometer as you remove the old strings. I usually mark each gauge-change with the size written on a bit of masking tape and stick each bit at the hitch end where the change occurs. I do it at that end so it doesn't get lost as it's more likely to do at the wrest-pin end. For my Bass covereds I went to Gregor Heller at HellerBass in Germany. He uses Roslau as core material but you'd have to ask if he'd use Roslau Red if you go that route. Look him up on Google.     Michael   UK

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    Michael Gamble
    semi retired
    Brighton
    01273813612
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  • 6.  RE: Mapes Gold wire for Yamaha restring?

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 09-06-2015 14:58

    Looks like my earlier post here got in the wrong thread.

    I have found Yamaha plates to be harder than most other plates and think this is more likely to be the cause of earlier string failure than the difference between brands of wire. 

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    Edward McMorrow
    Edmonds WA
    425-299-3431
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  • 7.  RE: Mapes Gold wire for Yamaha restring?

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 09-10-2015 11:10

    I got a response from Andy Wilson about whether Mapes draws their own wire? "Yes we do draw our own wire" was the answer.

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    Edward McMorrow
    Edmonds WA
    425-299-3431
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