Pianotech

No, this is not one of those "new" sports being considered for inclusion in the Olympics. I'm taking about THE highest tuning pin torques I have ever encountered, by far. When the pins DO finally release, they move a lot, with corresponding changes in the pitch of the string (and the sound of a small caliber firearm being discharged!). Did not have a torque wrench with me, or the means of shooting video of what it looks and sounds like to tune this beast (although both of these items are on the agenda for the next visit). FWIW, there were a handful of pins, scattered throughout the scale, that were far more normal feeling.

The piano is a hundred year old Steinway grand that has been restrung. Did not have time on that first visit to pull the action and examine the pinblock. In the mean time, I am left to wonder and speculate (not my favorite past-time, but in the absence of more data, it's all I have to chew on): Is it the original block, either treated with some disagreeable substance, or damaged in reaming, or restrung with too-large pins? Or could it actually be a new block, but so horribly drilled (too fast a speed and/or rate of feed? Dull bit? Too small a hole for the pin size used?), as to yield the worst feeling tuning pins I have ever encountered. It brought to mind someone describing breaking off a tuning pin (a pleasure that I have not personally had...yet) on a multi-multi-laminate Baldwin glue-block from the bad old days.

Of all the thousands of pianos I have serviced, the feeling of the tuning pins on this one are off-the-chart to an extreme degree. Do these symptoms sound familiar to anyone? And if so, were you able to positively ascertain the cause?

Thanks,

Alan

No, this is not one of those "new" sports being considered for inclusion in the Olympics. I'm taking about THE highest tuning pin torques I have ever encountered, by far. When the pins DO finally release, they move a lot, with corresponding changes in the pitch of the string (and the sound of a small caliber firearm being discharged!). Did not have a torque wrench with me, or the means of shooting video of what it looks and sounds like to tune this beast (although both of these items are on the agenda for the next visit). FWIW, there were a handful of pins, scattered throughout the scale, that were far more normal feeling.

The piano is a hundred year old Steinway grand that has been restrung. Did not have time on that first visit to pull the action and examine the pinblock. In the mean time, I am left to wonder and speculate (not my favorite past-time, but in the absence of more data, it's all I have to chew on): Is it the original block, either treated with some disagreeable substance, or damaged in reaming, or restrung with too-large pins? Or could it actually be a new block, but so horribly drilled (too fast a speed and/or rate of feed? Dull bit? Too small a hole for the pin size used?), as to yield the worst feeling tuning pins I have ever encountered. It brought to mind someone describing breaking off a tuning pin (a pleasure that I have not personally had...yet) on a multi-multi-laminate Baldwin glue-block from the bad old days.

Of all the thousands of pianos I have serviced, the feeling of the tuning pins on this one are off-the-chart to an extreme degree. Do these symptoms sound familiar to anyone? And if so, were you able to positively ascertain the cause?

Thanks,

Alan

No, this is not one of those "new" sports being considered for inclusion in the Olympics. I'm taking about THE highest tuning pin torques I have ever encountered, by far. When the pins DO finally release, they move a lot, with corresponding changes in the pitch of the string (and the sound of a small caliber firearm being discharged!). Did not have a torque wrench with me, or the means of shooting video of what it looks and sounds like to tune this beast (although both of these items are on the agenda for the next visit). FWIW, there were a handful of pins, scattered throughout the scale, that were far more normal feeling.

The piano is a hundred year old Steinway grand that has been restrung. Did not have time on that first visit to pull the action and examine the pinblock. In the mean time, I am left to wonder and speculate (not my favorite past-time, but in the absence of more data, it's all I have to chew on): Is it the original block, either treated with some disagreeable substance, or damaged in reaming, or restrung with too-large pins? Or could it actually be a new block, but so horribly drilled (too fast a speed and/or rate of feed? Dull bit? Too small a hole for the pin size used?), as to yield the worst feeling tuning pins I have ever encountered. It brought to mind someone describing breaking off a tuning pin (a pleasure that I have not personally had...yet) on a multi-multi-laminate Baldwin glue-block from the bad old days.

Of all the thousands of pianos I have serviced, the feeling of the tuning pins on this one are off-the-chart to an extreme degree. Do these symptoms sound familiar to anyone? And if so, were you able to positively ascertain the cause?

Thanks,

Alan

No, this is not one of those "new" sports being considered for inclusion in the Olympics. I'm taking about THE highest tuning pin torques I have ever encountered, by far. When the pins DO finally release, they move a lot, with corresponding changes in the pitch of the string (and the sound of a small caliber firearm being discharged!). Did not have a torque wrench with me, or the means of shooting video of what it looks and sounds like to tune this beast (although both of these items are on the agenda for the next visit). FWIW, there were a handful of pins, scattered throughout the scale, that were far more normal feeling.

The piano is a hundred year old Steinway grand that has been restrung. Did not have time on that first visit to pull the action and examine the pinblock. In the mean time, I am left to wonder and speculate (not my favorite past-time, but in the absence of more data, it's all I have to chew on): Is it the original block, either treated with some disagreeable substance, or damaged in reaming, or restrung with too-large pins? Or could it actually be a new block, but so horribly drilled (too fast a speed and/or rate of feed? Dull bit? Too small a hole for the pin size used?), as to yield the worst feeling tuning pins I have ever encountered. It brought to mind someone describing breaking off a tuning pin (a pleasure that I have not personally had...yet) on a multi-multi-laminate Baldwin glue-block from the bad old days.

Of all the thousands of pianos I have serviced, the feeling of the tuning pins on this one are off-the-chart to an extreme degree. Do these symptoms sound familiar to anyone? And if so, were you able to positively ascertain the cause?

Thanks,

Alan

No, this is not one of those "new" sports being considered for inclusion in the Olympics. I'm taking about THE highest tuning pin torques I have ever encountered, by far. When the pins DO finally release, they move a lot, with corresponding changes in the pitch of the string (and the sound of a small caliber firearm being discharged!). Did not have a torque wrench with me, or the means of shooting video of what it looks and sounds like to tune this beast (although both of these items are on the agenda for the next visit). FWIW, there were a handful of pins, scattered throughout the scale, that were far more normal feeling.

The piano is a hundred year old Steinway grand that has been restrung. Did not have time on that first visit to pull the action and examine the pinblock. In the mean time, I am left to wonder and speculate (not my favorite past-time, but in the absence of more data, it's all I have to chew on): Is it the original block, either treated with some disagreeable substance, or damaged in reaming, or restrung with too-large pins? Or could it actually be a new block, but so horribly drilled (too fast a speed and/or rate of feed? Dull bit? Too small a hole for the pin size used?), as to yield the worst feeling tuning pins I have ever encountered. It brought to mind someone describing breaking off a tuning pin (a pleasure that I have not personally had...yet) on a multi-multi-laminate Baldwin glue-block from the bad old days.

Of all the thousands of pianos I have serviced, the feeling of the tuning pins on this one are off-the-chart to an extreme degree. Do these symptoms sound familiar to anyone? And if so, were you able to positively ascertain the cause?

Thanks,

Alan

No, this is not one of those "new" sports being considered for inclusion in the Olympics. I'm taking about THE highest tuning pin torques I have ever encountered, by far. When the pins DO finally release, they move a lot, with corresponding changes in the pitch of the string (and the sound of a small caliber firearm being discharged!). Did not have a torque wrench with me, or the means of shooting video of what it looks and sounds like to tune this beast (although both of these items are on the agenda for the next visit). FWIW, there were a handful of pins, scattered throughout the scale, that were far more normal feeling.

The piano is a hundred year old Steinway grand that has been restrung. Did not have time on that first visit to pull the action and examine the pinblock. In the mean time, I am left to wonder and speculate (not my favorite past-time, but in the absence of more data, it's all I have to chew on): Is it the original block, either treated with some disagreeable substance, or damaged in reaming, or restrung with too-large pins? Or could it actually be a new block, but so horribly drilled (too fast a speed and/or rate of feed? Dull bit? Too small a hole for the pin size used?), as to yield the worst feeling tuning pins I have ever encountered. It brought to mind someone describing breaking off a tuning pin (a pleasure that I have not personally had...yet) on a multi-multi-laminate Baldwin glue-block from the bad old days.

Of all the thousands of pianos I have serviced, the feeling of the tuning pins on this one are off-the-chart to an extreme degree. Do these symptoms sound familiar to anyone? And if so, were you able to positively ascertain the cause?

Thanks,

Alan

No, this is not one of those "new" sports being considered for inclusion in the Olympics. I'm taking about THE highest tuning pin torques I have ever encountered, by far. When the pins DO finally release, they move a lot, with corresponding changes in the pitch of the string (and the sound of a small caliber firearm being discharged!). Did not have a torque wrench with me, or the means of shooting video of what it looks and sounds like to tune this beast (although both of these items are on the agenda for the next visit). FWIW, there were a handful of pins, scattered throughout the scale, that were far more normal feeling.

The piano is a hundred year old Steinway grand that has been restrung. Did not have time on that first visit to pull the action and examine the pinblock. In the mean time, I am left to wonder and speculate (not my favorite past-time, but in the absence of more data, it's all I have to chew on): Is it the original block, either treated with some disagreeable substance, or damaged in reaming, or restrung with too-large pins? Or could it actually be a new block, but so horribly drilled (too fast a speed and/or rate of feed? Dull bit? Too small a hole for the pin size used?), as to yield the worst feeling tuning pins I have ever encountered. It brought to mind someone describing breaking off a tuning pin (a pleasure that I have not personally had...yet) on a multi-multi-laminate Baldwin glue-block from the bad old days.

Of all the thousands of pianos I have serviced, the feeling of the tuning pins on this one are off-the-chart to an extreme degree. Do these symptoms sound familiar to anyone? And if so, were you able to positively ascertain the cause?

Thanks,

Alan

No, this is not one of those "new" sports being considered for inclusion in the Olympics. I'm taking about THE highest tuning pin torques I have ever encountered, by far. When the pins DO finally release, they move a lot, with corresponding changes in the pitch of the string (and the sound of a small caliber firearm being discharged!). Did not have a torque wrench with me, or the means of shooting video of what it looks and sounds like to tune this beast (although both of these items are on the agenda for the next visit). FWIW, there were a handful of pins, scattered throughout the scale, that were far more normal feeling.

The piano is a hundred year old Steinway grand that has been restrung. Did not have time on that first visit to pull the action and examine the pinblock. In the mean time, I am left to wonder and speculate (not my favorite past-time, but in the absence of more data, it's all I have to chew on): Is it the original block, either treated with some disagreeable substance, or damaged in reaming, or restrung with too-large pins? Or could it actually be a new block, but so horribly drilled (too fast a speed and/or rate of feed? Dull bit? Too small a hole for the pin size used?), as to yield the worst feeling tuning pins I have ever encountered. It brought to mind someone describing breaking off a tuning pin (a pleasure that I have not personally had...yet) on a multi-multi-laminate Baldwin glue-block from the bad old days.

Of all the thousands of pianos I have serviced, the feeling of the tuning pins on this one are off-the-chart to an extreme degree. Do these symptoms sound familiar to anyone? And if so, were you able to positively ascertain the cause?

Thanks,

Alan

No, this is not one of those "new" sports being considered for inclusion in the Olympics. I'm taking about THE highest tuning pin torques I have ever encountered, by far. When the pins DO finally release, they move a lot, with corresponding changes in the pitch of the string (and the sound of a small caliber firearm being discharged!). Did not have a torque wrench with me, or the means of shooting video of what it looks and sounds like to tune this beast (although both of these items are on the agenda for the next visit). FWIW, there were a handful of pins, scattered throughout the scale, that were far more normal feeling.

The piano is a hundred year old Steinway grand that has been restrung. Did not have time on that first visit to pull the action and examine the pinblock. In the mean time, I am left to wonder and speculate (not my favorite past-time, but in the absence of more data, it's all I have to chew on): Is it the original block, either treated with some disagreeable substance, or damaged in reaming, or restrung with too-large pins? Or could it actually be a new block, but so horribly drilled (too fast a speed and/or rate of feed? Dull bit? Too small a hole for the pin size used?), as to yield the worst feeling tuning pins I have ever encountered. It brought to mind someone describing breaking off a tuning pin (a pleasure that I have not personally had...yet) on a multi-multi-laminate Baldwin glue-block from the bad old days.

Of all the thousands of pianos I have serviced, the feeling of the tuning pins on this one are off-the-chart to an extreme degree. Do these symptoms sound familiar to anyone? And if so, were you able to positively ascertain the cause?

Thanks,

Alan

No, this is not one of those "new" sports being considered for inclusion in the Olympics. I'm taking about THE highest tuning pin torques I have ever encountered, by far. When the pins DO finally release, they move a lot, with corresponding changes in the pitch of the string (and the sound of a small caliber firearm being discharged!). Did not have a torque wrench with me, or the means of shooting video of what it looks and sounds like to tune this beast (although both of these items are on the agenda for the next visit). FWIW, there were a handful of pins, scattered throughout the scale, that were far more normal feeling.

The piano is a hundred year old Steinway grand that has been restrung. Did not have time on that first visit to pull the action and examine the pinblock. In the mean time, I am left to wonder and speculate (not my favorite past-time, but in the absence of more data, it's all I have to chew on): Is it the original block, either treated with some disagreeable substance, or damaged in reaming, or restrung with too-large pins? Or could it actually be a new block, but so horribly drilled (too fast a speed and/or rate of feed? Dull bit? Too small a hole for the pin size used?), as to yield the worst feeling tuning pins I have ever encountered. It brought to mind someone describing breaking off a tuning pin (a pleasure that I have not personally had...yet) on a multi-multi-laminate Baldwin glue-block from the bad old days.

Of all the thousands of pianos I have serviced, the feeling of the tuning pins on this one are off-the-chart to an extreme degree. Do these symptoms sound familiar to anyone? And if so, were you able to positively ascertain the cause?

Thanks,

Alan

No, this is not one of those "new" sports being considered for inclusion in the Olympics. I'm taking about THE highest tuning pin torques I have ever encountered, by far. When the pins DO finally release, they move a lot, with corresponding changes in the pitch of the string (and the sound of a small caliber firearm being discharged!). Did not have a torque wrench with me, or the means of shooting video of what it looks and sounds like to tune this beast (although both of these items are on the agenda for the next visit). FWIW, there were a handful of pins, scattered throughout the scale, that were far more normal feeling.

The piano is a hundred year old Steinway grand that has been restrung. Did not have time on that first visit to pull the action and examine the pinblock. In the mean time, I am left to wonder and speculate (not my favorite past-time, but in the absence of more data, it's all I have to chew on): Is it the original block, either treated with some disagreeable substance, or damaged in reaming, or restrung with too-large pins? Or could it actually be a new block, but so horribly drilled (too fast a speed and/or rate of feed? Dull bit? Too small a hole for the pin size used?), as to yield the worst feeling tuning pins I have ever encountered. It brought to mind someone describing breaking off a tuning pin (a pleasure that I have not personally had...yet) on a multi-multi-laminate Baldwin glue-block from the bad old days.

Of all the thousands of pianos I have serviced, the feeling of the tuning pins on this one are off-the-chart to an extreme degree. Do these symptoms sound familiar to anyone? And if so, were you able to positively ascertain the cause?

Thanks,

Alan

No, this is not one of those "new" sports being considered for inclusion in the Olympics. I'm taking about THE highest tuning pin torques I have ever encountered, by far. When the pins DO finally release, they move a lot, with corresponding changes in the pitch of the string (and the sound of a small caliber firearm being discharged!). Did not have a torque wrench with me, or the means of shooting video of what it looks and sounds like to tune this beast (although both of these items are on the agenda for the next visit). FWIW, there were a handful of pins, scattered throughout the scale, that were far more normal feeling.

The piano is a hundred year old Steinway grand that has been restrung. Did not have time on that first visit to pull the action and examine the pinblock. In the mean time, I am left to wonder and speculate (not my favorite past-time, but in the absence of more data, it's all I have to chew on): Is it the original block, either treated with some disagreeable substance, or damaged in reaming, or restrung with too-large pins? Or could it actually be a new block, but so horribly drilled (too fast a speed and/or rate of feed? Dull bit? Too small a hole for the pin size used?), as to yield the worst feeling tuning pins I have ever encountered. It brought to mind someone describing breaking off a tuning pin (a pleasure that I have not personally had...yet) on a multi-multi-laminate Baldwin glue-block from the bad old days.

Of all the thousands of pianos I have serviced, the feeling of the tuning pins on this one are off-the-chart to an extreme degree. Do these symptoms sound familiar to anyone? And if so, were you able to positively ascertain the cause?

Thanks,

Alan

No, this is not one of those "new" sports being considered for inclusion in the Olympics. I'm taking about THE highest tuning pin torques I have ever encountered, by far. When the pins DO finally release, they move a lot, with corresponding changes in the pitch of the string (and the sound of a small caliber firearm being discharged!). Did not have a torque wrench with me, or the means of shooting video of what it looks and sounds like to tune this beast (although both of these items are on the agenda for the next visit). FWIW, there were a handful of pins, scattered throughout the scale, that were far more normal feeling.

The piano is a hundred year old Steinway grand that has been restrung. Did not have time on that first visit to pull the action and examine the pinblock. In the mean time, I am left to wonder and speculate (not my favorite past-time, but in the absence of more data, it's all I have to chew on): Is it the original block, either treated with some disagreeable substance, or damaged in reaming, or restrung with too-large pins? Or could it actually be a new block, but so horribly drilled (too fast a speed and/or rate of feed? Dull bit? Too small a hole for the pin size used?), as to yield the worst feeling tuning pins I have ever encountered. It brought to mind someone describing breaking off a tuning pin (a pleasure that I have not personally had...yet) on a multi-multi-laminate Baldwin glue-block from the bad old days.

Of all the thousands of pianos I have serviced, the feeling of the tuning pins on this one are off-the-chart to an extreme degree. Do these symptoms sound familiar to anyone? And if so, were you able to positively ascertain the cause?

Thanks,

Alan

No, this is not one of those "new" sports being considered for inclusion in the Olympics. I'm taking about THE highest tuning pin torques I have ever encountered, by far. When the pins DO finally release, they move a lot, with corresponding changes in the pitch of the string (and the sound of a small caliber firearm being discharged!). Did not have a torque wrench with me, or the means of shooting video of what it looks and sounds like to tune this beast (although both of these items are on the agenda for the next visit). FWIW, there were a handful of pins, scattered throughout the scale, that were far more normal feeling.

The piano is a hundred year old Steinway grand that has been restrung. Did not have time on that first visit to pull the action and examine the pinblock. In the mean time, I am left to wonder and speculate (not my favorite past-time, but in the absence of more data, it's all I have to chew on): Is it the original block, either treated with some disagreeable substance, or damaged in reaming, or restrung with too-large pins? Or could it actually be a new block, but so horribly drilled (too fast a speed and/or rate of feed? Dull bit? Too small a hole for the pin size used?), as to yield the worst feeling tuning pins I have ever encountered. It brought to mind someone describing breaking off a tuning pin (a pleasure that I have not personally had...yet) on a multi-multi-laminate Baldwin glue-block from the bad old days.

Of all the thousands of pianos I have serviced, the feeling of the tuning pins on this one are off-the-chart to an extreme degree. Do these symptoms sound familiar to anyone? And if so, were you able to positively ascertain the cause?

Thanks,

Alan

No, this is not one of those "new" sports being considered for inclusion in the Olympics. I'm taking about THE highest tuning pin torques I have ever encountered, by far. When the pins DO finally release, they move a lot, with corresponding changes in the pitch of the string (and the sound of a small caliber firearm being discharged!). Did not have a torque wrench with me, or the means of shooting video of what it looks and sounds like to tune this beast (although both of these items are on the agenda for the next visit). FWIW, there were a handful of pins, scattered throughout the scale, that were far more normal feeling.

The piano is a hundred year old Steinway grand that has been restrung. Did not have time on that first visit to pull the action and examine the pinblock. In the mean time, I am left to wonder and speculate (not my favorite past-time, but in the absence of more data, it's all I have to chew on): Is it the original block, either treated with some disagreeable substance, or damaged in reaming, or restrung with too-large pins? Or could it actually be a new block, but so horribly drilled (too fast a speed and/or rate of feed? Dull bit? Too small a hole for the pin size used?), as to yield the worst feeling tuning pins I have ever encountered. It brought to mind someone describing breaking off a tuning pin (a pleasure that I have not personally had...yet) on a multi-multi-laminate Baldwin glue-block from the bad old days.

Of all the thousands of pianos I have serviced, the feeling of the tuning pins on this one are off-the-chart to an extreme degree. Do these symptoms sound familiar to anyone? And if so, were you able to positively ascertain the cause?

Thanks,

Alan

No, this is not one of those "new" sports being considered for inclusion in the Olympics. I'm taking about THE highest tuning pin torques I have ever encountered, by far. When the pins DO finally release, they move a lot, with corresponding changes in the pitch of the string (and the sound of a small caliber firearm being discharged!). Did not have a torque wrench with me, or the means of shooting video of what it looks and sounds like to tune this beast (although both of these items are on the agenda for the next visit). FWIW, there were a handful of pins, scattered throughout the scale, that were far more normal feeling.

The piano is a hundred year old Steinway grand that has been restrung. Did not have time on that first visit to pull the action and examine the pinblock. In the mean time, I am left to wonder and speculate (not my favorite past-time, but in the absence of more data, it's all I have to chew on): Is it the original block, either treated with some disagreeable substance, or damaged in reaming, or restrung with too-large pins? Or could it actually be a new block, but so horribly drilled (too fast a speed and/or rate of feed? Dull bit? Too small a hole for the pin size used?), as to yield the worst feeling tuning pins I have ever encountered. It brought to mind someone describing breaking off a tuning pin (a pleasure that I have not personally had...yet) on a multi-multi-laminate Baldwin glue-block from the bad old days.

Of all the thousands of pianos I have serviced, the feeling of the tuning pins on this one are off-the-chart to an extreme degree. Do these symptoms sound familiar to anyone? And if so, were you able to positively ascertain the cause?

Thanks,

Alan

No, this is not one of those "new" sports being considered for inclusion in the Olympics. I'm taking about THE highest tuning pin torques I have ever encountered, by far. When the pins DO finally release, they move a lot, with corresponding changes in the pitch of the string (and the sound of a small caliber firearm being discharged!). Did not have a torque wrench with me, or the means of shooting video of what it looks and sounds like to tune this beast (although both of these items are on the agenda for the next visit). FWIW, there were a handful of pins, scattered throughout the scale, that were far more normal feeling.

The piano is a hundred year old Steinway grand that has been restrung. Did not have time on that first visit to pull the action and examine the pinblock. In the mean time, I am left to wonder and speculate (not my favorite past-time, but in the absence of more data, it's all I have to chew on): Is it the original block, either treated with some disagreeable substance, or damaged in reaming, or restrung with too-large pins? Or could it actually be a new block, but so horribly drilled (too fast a speed and/or rate of feed? Dull bit? Too small a hole for the pin size used?), as to yield the worst feeling tuning pins I have ever encountered. It brought to mind someone describing breaking off a tuning pin (a pleasure that I have not personally had...yet) on a multi-multi-laminate Baldwin glue-block from the bad old days.

Of all the thousands of pianos I have serviced, the feeling of the tuning pins on this one are off-the-chart to an extreme degree. Do these symptoms sound familiar to anyone? And if so, were you able to positively ascertain the cause?

Thanks,

Alan

No, this is not one of those "new" sports being considered for inclusion in the Olympics. I'm taking about THE highest tuning pin torques I have ever encountered, by far. When the pins DO finally release, they move a lot, with corresponding changes in the pitch of the string (and the sound of a small caliber firearm being discharged!). Did not have a torque wrench with me, or the means of shooting video of what it looks and sounds like to tune this beast (although both of these items are on the agenda for the next visit). FWIW, there were a handful of pins, scattered throughout the scale, that were far more normal feeling.

The piano is a hundred year old Steinway grand that has been restrung. Did not have time on that first visit to pull the action and examine the pinblock. In the mean time, I am left to wonder and speculate (not my favorite past-time, but in the absence of more data, it's all I have to chew on): Is it the original block, either treated with some disagreeable substance, or damaged in reaming, or restrung with too-large pins? Or could it actually be a new block, but so horribly drilled (too fast a speed and/or rate of feed? Dull bit? Too small a hole for the pin size used?), as to yield the worst feeling tuning pins I have ever encountered. It brought to mind someone describing breaking off a tuning pin (a pleasure that I have not personally had...yet) on a multi-multi-laminate Baldwin glue-block from the bad old days.

Of all the thousands of pianos I have serviced, the feeling of the tuning pins on this one are off-the-chart to an extreme degree. Do these symptoms sound familiar to anyone? And if so, were you able to positively ascertain the cause?

Thanks,

Alan