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  • 1.  Zuckermann restringing

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 12-07-2019 15:06
      |   view attached
    I am restringing a mid 60's kit Z-Box. (picture attached) The instrument is a one choir, small Flemish style. It was made fairly well and has held up all things considered. Not too long ago the owner/builder installed the Zuckermann register and jack upgrade. This is the original stringing schedule:

    AA – C, 1 – 4, .025 red brass

    C# - F#, 5 – 10, .020 yellow brass

    G – B, 11 – 15, .016 yellow brass

    c – g, 16 – 23, .013 iron

    g# - g#', 24 – 36, .011 iron

    a' – f''', 37 – 57, .009 HI

    So far I cannot find any red brass available in a .025 size. I suppose I can get away with .024. I sent an email to Zuckermann asking if the above is still the preferred schedule but have yet to received a reply. Is there anyone on this list with experience restringing one of these kits and did you use the original schedule or find another one more to your liking?




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    [Don] [McKechnie,] [RPT]
    [Piano Technician]
    [dmckech@ithaca.edu]
    [Home 607.277.7112]
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  • 2.  RE: Zuckermann restringing

    Posted 12-07-2019 15:11
    Instrument Workshop www.fortepiano.com usually has red brass wire that gauge. We love their products, 
    but you could also use a smaller gauge for those base strings.





  • 3.  RE: Zuckermann restringing

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 12-07-2019 15:16
    The Instrument Workshop only carries .024 or .026. I am pretty sure the .024 will work.

    ------------------------------
    [Don] [McKechnie,] [RPT]
    [Piano Technician]
    [dmckech@ithaca.edu]
    [Home 607.277.7112]
    ------------------------------



  • 4.  RE: Zuckermann restringing

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 12-07-2019 16:13
    It's not something that would worry me. The difference in tone would be minimal, though the lowest couple notes might sound a little better with the thicker wire. Breaking point is essentially proportional for any diameter (tension changes in sync with strength), and the bass is so foreshortened that the tension will be well within bounds. Wally designed it as an inexpensive kit, and use of only six wire gauges was undoubtedly a cost savings rather than an ideal stringing scale. 





  • 5.  RE: Zuckermann restringing

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 12-07-2019 20:29
    I will test .026 red brass on the first two notes and see how it goes. I have been wondering about switching out the iron wire for low tensile steel. c'' speaking length is 13 3/8 so it is getting close to the edge of break point tolerance for LT steel. Might be worth a try though.

    ------------------------------
    [Don] [McKechnie,] [RPT]
    [Piano Technician]
    [dmckech@ithaca.edu]
    [Home 607.277.7112]
    ------------------------------