Pianotech

I called Yamaha and they told me the string gauge is stamped on the bridge...yeah, but I need to know before I get there.  I will be restringing 3 Yamaha pianos out at sea (yeah, I know.  It's a tough job, but someone's got to do it).   I need to know what wire I need to bring and perhaps order more of the wire that gets used the most.  I have the serial numbers and models if anyone can help.  Also, nickle-plated or blued tuning pins?

All the Yamaha scales are in the book "A Guide to Restringing" by John W. Travis. pages 489-499

I called Yamaha and they told me the string gauge is stamped on the bridge...yeah, but I need to know before I get there.  I will be restringing 3 Yamaha pianos out at sea (yeah, I know.  It's a tough job, but someone's got to do it).   I need to know what wire I need to bring and perhaps order more of the wire that gets used the most.  I have the serial numbers and models if anyone can help.  Also, nickle-plated or blued tuning pins?

Figure 12.5 to 20 gage. Will you be using metric diameter wire? Plated pins due to rust.  Why don't they just replace w/ new or restrung, it would save on chipping time.

------------------------------
Regards,

Jon Page

I called Yamaha and they told me the string gauge is stamped on the bridge...yeah, but I need to know before I get there.  I will be restringing 3 Yamaha pianos out at sea (yeah, I know.  It's a tough job, but someone's got to do it).   I need to know what wire I need to bring and perhaps order more of the wire that gets used the most.  I have the serial numbers and models if anyone can help.  Also, nickle-plated or blued tuning pins?

Douglas,

Having maintained many Yamaha pianos of various sizes for the last 40 years, I have, on occasions, restrung these pianos for various reasons, but I found you can get into a lot of unnecessary work or trouble if you replace tuning pins on pianos of this age. Most Yamaha pianos haven't been in service long enough to require tuning pin replacement. If you're "obsessed" with pin replacement, I would recommend you use Yamaha's oversize pins, certainly not the supply house pins. You'll never get a uniform pin grip by replacing with 3rd party parts. Remove the tension on each string about a half to three quarters turn. Remove the old string. Clean the tuning pins with a brass brush and carefully transfer the replacement string from your dummy tuning pin. This can be tricky with bass strings.You may experience a slightly loose pin after the procedure but if you drill a very small hole between the tuning pin and the bushing before reinstalling the strings you have a good option to apply CA glue in the pin block, although I have only encounter this need on a few occasions.

Roger Gable

P.S. It is unnecessary to know the stringing scale of these pianos. As Jon Page suggests, take plenty of the various sizes with you. Piano wire is cheap, no need to skimp. If you can't read the size number on the bridge simply take calipers with you.

I called Yamaha and they told me the string gauge is stamped on the bridge...yeah, but I need to know before I get there.  I will be restringing 3 Yamaha pianos out at sea (yeah, I know.  It's a tough job, but someone's got to do it).   I need to know what wire I need to bring and perhaps order more of the wire that gets used the most.  I have the serial numbers and models if anyone can help.  Also, nickle-plated or blued tuning pins?