Pianotech

  • 1.  Buzzing agraffe

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 03-17-2018 20:38
    I have a Baldwin L with what I am 99% sure is a buzzing right string at the agraffe. I am looking for a fix that does not involve replacing the string.

    Suggestions?

    Pwg

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    Peter Grey
    Stratham NH
    603-686-2395
    pianodoctor57@gmail.com
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  • 2.  RE: Buzzing agraffe

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 03-17-2018 21:11
    Try releasing the tension almost a whole turn and then pulling the string back up again.

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    Willem "Wim" Blees, RPT
    Mililani, HI 96789
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Buzzing agraffe

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 03-18-2018 12:38
    Try putting some slight side pressure on the buzzing string where it leaves the agraffe up to the tuning pin. If the buzz stops, then push the string from side to side in string hole. No need to use great force, just push one way then the other and test for buzz. Repeat as needed. Then retune unison once buzz is gone.

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    Edward McMorrow
    Edmonds WA
    425-299-3431
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Buzzing agraffe

    Posted 03-18-2018 13:49
    Sometimes a small wedge of hard leather or wood between strings on the tuning pin side of the agraffe will move the string enough to clear the sound.

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    Ed Sutton
    ed440@me.com
    (980) 254-7413
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    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Buzzing agraffe

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 03-18-2018 22:53
    So what I have done so far (before I posted this) was:

    1) Fit hammer to unison (on the assumption that it might actually be a weird vibration set up by inaccurate strike)...didn't work.

    2) Slacked off middle string and pulled up the right (the offender) which changed it a little (but obviously did not eliminate it).

    3) Installed a PitchLock string coupler on the tuning pin side of the agraffe (middle and right). This made it "tolerable" but it's still there.

    I also considered (at the time) letting down the tension and yanking it around a bit on the speaking side but decided against it until I received further input. In retrospect perhaps I should have tried that.

    Another thing I thought about was trying to fish the wire all the way through (becket and all [difficult]) and running abrasive cord through the hole a few times, then putting it back together.  I suppose that if others thought that was a good idea, even if it broke I could splice a new piece on and still retain the original speaking part of the wire (this is ultimately the objective for continuity of tone).

    Thanks so far for the input.

    Pwg

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    Peter Grey
    Stratham NH
    603-686-2395
    pianodoctor57@gmail.com
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    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: Buzzing agraffe

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 03-19-2018 08:05

    I'll echo Ed's comments about pushing the string left and right to help reduce or eliminate agraffe/string buzzes.  Burrs can occur from strings digging into the top side of the agraffe.  Once the string has cut into the brass, the resulting burr can act like a drum snare, and there's the most likely place the buzz is coming from.   
    All of advice that has been given are all in my arsenal of tricks for dealing with string buzzes. But the sliding the string back and forth is my first go-to trick as I've found this directly addresses the edge of the burr.  Don't be surprised it takes quite a bit of going back and forth before the problem begins to subside.   



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    Tom Servinsky
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    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: Buzzing agraffe

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 03-19-2018 11:09
    Can I assume both you and Ed are advising doing this from the speaking side if the agraffe (makes more sense to me)?

    Pwg

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    Peter Grey
    Stratham NH
    603-686-2395
    pianodoctor57@gmail.com
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    Original Message


  • 8.  RE: Buzzing agraffe

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 03-20-2018 06:58
    Peter
    Most likely, yes.   There are occasions when you have to work it from the hind end as well.  For the hind end, I'll use a large flat head screwdriver and manipulate the string back and forth.

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    Tom Servinsky
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    Original Message


  • 9.  RE: Buzzing agraffe

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 03-20-2018 10:33
    Peter, is this a wrapped string, or a plain string?  If wrapped, the noise might be loose wrap; if a plain string, the agraffe is a likely cause.
    To diagnose the agraffe:  From the tuning-pin side apply slight pressure to the faulty string with screwdriver blade.  Lift up, press down, press L & R.  One of those directions should *eliminate* the buzz if it is originating in the agraffe.

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    John Rhodes
    Vancouver WA
    360-721-0728
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    Original Message


  • 10.  RE: Buzzing agraffe

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 03-20-2018 12:01
    John,

    Plain wire right in the middle of the piano. I'll be going back to it soon and try these suggestions. 

    This piano also has several L-wave issues in the bass that the owner is complaining about. Of course these are notoriously hard to fix without redesign of the strings.  We shall see.

    Thanks for this input.

    Pwg

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    Peter Grey
    Stratham NH
    603-686-2395
    pianodoctor57@gmail.com
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    Original Message