Pianotech

  • 1.  Restrung square grand tuning pitch

    Member
    Posted 03-08-2018 13:52
    Hey everyone. I have rejoined the PTG after a hiatus. I want to thank all who reply because I have learned as much from following the forums as from any of the other source.
    The issue:
    I was asked to tune up and antique square grand. It's an 1878 Steinway,,, pretty much intact and has had new wire put on it. 
    I have no idea if the tension of the new wire at 440 is greater than what was original. I have no desire to snap a plate. 

    What would the general safe zone be?
    I'm thinking I could go to 432 but maybe I should go a note flat. A half step. Tune the A# to 440. 
    Thanks
    Keith

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    Keith Roberts
    owner
    Hathaway Pines CA
    209-728-2163
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  • 2.  RE: Restrung square grand tuning pitch

    Posted 03-08-2018 14:20
    Why do you feel the liability is yours? I propose that you are not communicating to the customer properly. What do THEY want? 
    All squares are different, some are heavily framed, some are lightly framed. If it had one crossbar, I would go low on pitch generally. If it had two or more I went for it, and have never had a breakage(knock on wood). Mathuschek were heavily framed as an example. I have rebuilt a Steinway square and tuned it to A-440 with no problem. I think Knabe squares were the best sounding, but that's another topic.





  • 3.  RE: Restrung square grand tuning pitch

    Member
    Posted 03-08-2018 15:34
    Certainly it's not my liability but that doesn't mean I'm going to let it happen. Just the name Steinway makes it worth something. It is restorable. 

    There was a discussion some time ago about the type of wire to restring an old square with. Pure sound or something that had the same characteristic of an 1878 piano. Right? It wasn't until 1870 or something when Bessemer invented the blast furnace and the breaking strength of wire went up 100 lbs. 
    This question is purely for refinement of my common sense with a square. I don't see many of them. 
    It's in the Murphys, Ca museum an old gold mine town, and isn't from the town of Murphys so there is controversy over it being there at all. It came from a high country place over on Sonora pass so it is a local antique,, maybe. 
    Anybody want to buy it?

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    Keith Roberts
    owner
    Hathaway Pines CA
    209-728-2163
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  • 4.  RE: Restrung square grand tuning pitch

    Posted 03-08-2018 15:54
    I tune squares where they are unless asked to raise pitch. I will then inform the customer of the risks. Another concern is cracks where the treble bridge takes a sharp turn. I think most squares were originally tuned to A435. The pitch was sometimes stamped on the plate.


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    Philip Jamison
    Philip Jamison Pianos
    WEST CHESTER PA
    610-696-8449
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  • 5.  RE: Restrung square grand tuning pitch

    Member
    Posted 03-08-2018 21:38
    Thanks Phillip
    I tuned it to 432. That was about where it was. I guess it will hold that tension no problem.
    The person who restrung it,,, left the tails a 1/4 inch+ through the beckets. Some pins are way higher and many of the coils are sloppy. 
    They also took out all the damper lift wires and got them back in wrong. They put the action in and bent a bunch of the wires. 
    11 lift wires were longer and there were 11 bass holes,, duh,,,  then 3 lower ones with more threads for the adjustment. So i put the bass ones in, straightened them. Then went looking for the missing one of the 3,,, found it. put the rest of them in the holes and adjusted,,, 
    Bingo. Sounds like a piano

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    Keith Roberts
    owner
    Hathaway Pines CA
    209-728-2163
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  • 6.  RE: Restrung square grand tuning pitch

    Posted 03-09-2018 08:54
    I rebuilt the 1867 Steinway in the pictures a few years ago. Tuned it to A400 no problem. Sounded great!

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    Terry Farrell
    Farrell Piano Service, Inc.
    Brandon, Florida
    terry@farrellpiano.com
    813-684-3505
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  • 7.  RE: Restrung square grand tuning pitch

    Posted 03-10-2018 09:18
    OOPS!!! Typo: I meant A440!

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    Terry Farrell
    Farrell Piano Service, Inc.
    Brandon, Florida
    terry@farrellpiano.com
    813-684-3505
    ------------------------------