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Wound bass strings question #1 : Rattles

  • 1.  Wound bass strings question #1 : Rattles

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-22-2018 22:36
    Steinway   M   from 2003. Really decent condition. The customer is complaining about rattles in several of the bass strings. Not horrible ones but definitely there. Subtle unless you already know they're there. I tried twisting the strings to no avail. Found them at about one turn. Added an additional 1/2 turn then a second 1/2 turn. Almost insignificant change. Hoping someone here has some suggestions on what to try next.

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    Geoff Sykes, RPT
    Los Angeles CA
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  • 2.  RE: Wound bass strings question #1 : Rattles

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-22-2018 22:55
    Hi Geoff:
    If twisting the string doesn't quiet the rattle/buzz, especially if it already has some twist on it, usually means it's toast. Rattling string means the winding is loose, and if twisting fails there's nothing else you can do. If you twist it more, it will become dead. That is my experience. You can always try untwisting it and see what happens, but it's a shot in the dark at best. Is it possible something else is loose? Yes, I suppose. But I'd put my money on replacement.
    Good luck.
    Paul McCloud
    San Diego




  • 3.  RE: Wound bass strings question #1 : Rattles

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-23-2018 00:22
    Geoff,

    You could try holding a pair of pliers with just the right grip,
    placed on the core wire, adjacent to the end of the winding. Then tap
    the pliers toward the winding. Repeat from other end of wrap. When
    twisting doesn't eliminate a rattle, sometimes this tapping technique
    does.

    Alan

    On 10/22/18, Paul McCloud via Piano Technicians Guild




  • 4.  RE: Wound bass strings question #1 : Rattles

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-23-2018 02:01
    Thanks, Alan. I had totally forgotten about that trick in my confused state.

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    Geoff Sykes, RPT
    Los Angeles CA
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  • 5.  RE: Wound bass strings question #1 : Rattles

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-23-2018 10:45
    I have had success with lowering tension, twisting 360 degrees opposite, putting some tension on but not up to full pitch, using pliers to squeeze wrap at swadge, letting tension down and 360 degree turn in correct direction, back to tension.

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    Edward McMorrow
    Edmonds WA
    425-299-3431
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  • 6.  RE: Wound bass strings question #1 : Rattles

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-24-2018 07:41
    Is the idea (Alan's tip) to tighten the windings lengthwise? What does 'just the right grip' mean? I am not familiar with this trick.







  • 7.  RE: Wound bass strings question #1 : Rattles

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-24-2018 23:47
    Lucinda --

    On the wound string, take a pair of needle nose pliers and very gently grab the core of the wound string next to the end of the winding. Then tap the pliers along the line of the core towards the winding with something like a small hammer. The pliers should slip along the core towards the winding and with the tapping cause the winding to compress a little bit. Tap it a couple of times. Repeat on the other end of the string. Does this help?

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    Geoff Sykes, RPT
    Los Angeles CA
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  • 8.  RE: Wound bass strings question #1 : Rattles

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-25-2018 07:22
    Yes, thanks.





  • 9.  RE: Wound bass strings question #1 : Rattles

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-25-2018 10:23
    Lucinda,

    Geoff's explanation about covers it. I would add that in addition to needle nose pliers, Vise-Grips, slip-joint and wire-stripping pliers are all good candidates for this task. 

    Please note also Ed McMorrow's further refinement of this process (involving lowering the tension on the string, and even untwisting it before impacting the windings).

    Alan

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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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  • 10.  RE: Wound bass strings question #1 : Rattles

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-23-2018 17:07
    Would this be a situation for the PitchLock staples? I'm unfamiliar with them, so am not sure if they'd help here or not.

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    Benjamin Sanchez
    Professional Piano Services
    (805)315-8050
    www.professional-piano-services.com
    BenPianoPro@comcast.net
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  • 11.  RE: Wound bass strings question #1 : Rattles

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-24-2018 10:58
    Actually, PitchLock MIGHT help a little, but it would be strictly a masking issue. At least you can undo it if it doesn't work.

    I'm on the redesign and replacement ballpark. James has the means to do it.

    Pwg

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