Pianotech

I need to make a proposal to a new customer to replace all of the bass strings on her small Howard Grand made in Cincinnati Ohio. I have the serial number but no model number. However it is small and probably just under 5' . She told me it dates to about 1923 . All of the bass strings are dull and tubby with the worst being all the single unisons. I could make a string tracing and take micrometer measurements , winding length etc but didnt know if there is a rebuilder or string maker who already has this info. The last time I did such a project I did this on a large parlor grand Chas M Stieff and as I read the measurements off it turned out he had the scale . Because it will take time and effort and be done on site I need to quote accurately the costs and hours including passes to stabilize the new strings

I need to make a proposal to a new customer to replace all of the bass strings on her small Howard Grand made in Cincinnati Ohio. I have the serial number but no model number. However it is small and probably just under 5' . She told me it dates to about 1923 . All of the bass strings are dull and tubby with the worst being all the single unisons. I could make a string tracing and take micrometer measurements , winding length etc but didnt know if there is a rebuilder or string maker who already has this info. The last time I did such a project I did this on a large parlor grand Chas M Stieff and as I read the measurements off it turned out he had the scale . Because it will take time and effort and be done on site I need to quote accurately the costs and hours including passes to stabilize the new strings

I need to make a proposal to a new customer to replace all of the bass strings on her small Howard Grand made in Cincinnati Ohio. I have the serial number but no model number. However it is small and probably just under 5' . She told me it dates to about 1923 . All of the bass strings are dull and tubby with the worst being all the single unisons. I could make a string tracing and take micrometer measurements , winding length etc but didnt know if there is a rebuilder or string maker who already has this info. The last time I did such a project I did this on a large parlor grand Chas M Stieff and as I read the measurements off it turned out he had the scale . Because it will take time and effort and be done on site I need to quote accurately the costs and hours including passes to stabilize the new strings

I need to make a proposal to a new customer to replace all of the bass strings on her small Howard Grand made in Cincinnati Ohio. I have the serial number but no model number. However it is small and probably just under 5' . She told me it dates to about 1923 . All of the bass strings are dull and tubby with the worst being all the single unisons. I could make a string tracing and take micrometer measurements , winding length etc but didnt know if there is a rebuilder or string maker who already has this info. The last time I did such a project I did this on a large parlor grand Chas M Stieff and as I read the measurements off it turned out he had the scale . Because it will take time and effort and be done on site I need to quote accurately the costs and hours including passes to stabilize the new strings

For your proposal, the cost of the strings will be determined by the number of them. The exact scale won't' matter. 

You can call or email the string makers to ask if they will have the scale. Mapes, Schaff, J.D. Grandt, Heller Bass are easily found online. Grandt and Heller are eager for out business, they show up for every convention and are easy to work with. Both of them can provide you with a measuring tape outfitted with a hitch pin loop to make measuring easier. 

It sounds like you will need to charge for a visit to the piano before ordering in any case, whether to find the model and serial number, or to measure the strings. I would quote for the maximum time I might need. 

I need to make a proposal to a new customer to replace all of the bass strings on her small Howard Grand made in Cincinnati Ohio. I have the serial number but no model number. However it is small and probably just under 5' . She told me it dates to about 1923 . All of the bass strings are dull and tubby with the worst being all the single unisons. I could make a string tracing and take micrometer measurements , winding length etc but didnt know if there is a rebuilder or string maker who already has this info. The last time I did such a project I did this on a large parlor grand Chas M Stieff and as I read the measurements off it turned out he had the scale . Because it will take time and effort and be done on site I need to quote accurately the costs and hours including passes to stabilize the new strings

James, This may not pertain to your situation but if you drop tension on an old dead bass string and then bring it back up to tension using a coil lifter, it will often come back to life. This is an abbreviated version of removing the string from the hitch pin, looping it into one coil, and the moving the coil up and down the length of the string being careful of the damper.. Yes there might be some additional risk that the string breaks but this has yet to happen to me.

For your proposal, the cost of the strings will be determined by the number of them. The exact scale won't' matter. 

You can call or email the string makers to ask if they will have the scale. Mapes, Schaff, J.D. Grandt, Heller Bass are easily found online. Grandt and Heller are eager for out business, they show up for every convention and are easy to work with. Both of them can provide you with a measuring tape outfitted with a hitch pin loop to make measuring easier. 

It sounds like you will need to charge for a visit to the piano before ordering in any case, whether to find the model and serial number, or to measure the strings. I would quote for the maximum time I might need. 

I need to make a proposal to a new customer to replace all of the bass strings on her small Howard Grand made in Cincinnati Ohio. I have the serial number but no model number. However it is small and probably just under 5' . She told me it dates to about 1923 . All of the bass strings are dull and tubby with the worst being all the single unisons. I could make a string tracing and take micrometer measurements , winding length etc but didnt know if there is a rebuilder or string maker who already has this info. The last time I did such a project I did this on a large parlor grand Chas M Stieff and as I read the measurements off it turned out he had the scale . Because it will take time and effort and be done on site I need to quote accurately the costs and hours including passes to stabilize the new strings

James, This may not pertain to your situation but if you drop tension on an old dead bass string and then bring it back up to tension using a coil lifter, it will often come back to life. This is an abbreviated version of removing the string from the hitch pin, looping it into one coil, and the moving the coil up and down the length of the string being careful of the damper.. Yes there might be some additional risk that the string breaks but this has yet to happen to me.

For your proposal, the cost of the strings will be determined by the number of them. The exact scale won't' matter. 

You can call or email the string makers to ask if they will have the scale. Mapes, Schaff, J.D. Grandt, Heller Bass are easily found online. Grandt and Heller are eager for out business, they show up for every convention and are easy to work with. Both of them can provide you with a measuring tape outfitted with a hitch pin loop to make measuring easier. 

It sounds like you will need to charge for a visit to the piano before ordering in any case, whether to find the model and serial number, or to measure the strings. I would quote for the maximum time I might need. 

I need to make a proposal to a new customer to replace all of the bass strings on her small Howard Grand made in Cincinnati Ohio. I have the serial number but no model number. However it is small and probably just under 5' . She told me it dates to about 1923 . All of the bass strings are dull and tubby with the worst being all the single unisons. I could make a string tracing and take micrometer measurements , winding length etc but didnt know if there is a rebuilder or string maker who already has this info. The last time I did such a project I did this on a large parlor grand Chas M Stieff and as I read the measurements off it turned out he had the scale . Because it will take time and effort and be done on site I need to quote accurately the costs and hours including passes to stabilize the new strings

Yes, I have found that this works, and sometimes the string becket breaks too.  The other thing that happens is that the string behaves as if it were new and requires several tunings to become stable again.  And sometimes it goes dead again very soon.  YMMV, you may have callbacks.  Don't ask how I know.

James, This may not pertain to your situation but if you drop tension on an old dead bass string and then bring it back up to tension using a coil lifter, it will often come back to life. This is an abbreviated version of removing the string from the hitch pin, looping it into one coil, and the moving the coil up and down the length of the string being careful of the damper.. Yes there might be some additional risk that the string breaks but this has yet to happen to me.

For your proposal, the cost of the strings will be determined by the number of them. The exact scale won't' matter. 

You can call or email the string makers to ask if they will have the scale. Mapes, Schaff, J.D. Grandt, Heller Bass are easily found online. Grandt and Heller are eager for out business, they show up for every convention and are easy to work with. Both of them can provide you with a measuring tape outfitted with a hitch pin loop to make measuring easier. 

It sounds like you will need to charge for a visit to the piano before ordering in any case, whether to find the model and serial number, or to measure the strings. I would quote for the maximum time I might need. 

I need to make a proposal to a new customer to replace all of the bass strings on her small Howard Grand made in Cincinnati Ohio. I have the serial number but no model number. However it is small and probably just under 5' . She told me it dates to about 1923 . All of the bass strings are dull and tubby with the worst being all the single unisons. I could make a string tracing and take micrometer measurements , winding length etc but didnt know if there is a rebuilder or string maker who already has this info. The last time I did such a project I did this on a large parlor grand Chas M Stieff and as I read the measurements off it turned out he had the scale . Because it will take time and effort and be done on site I need to quote accurately the costs and hours including passes to stabilize the new strings

Wim and Paul, Good points. I just thought I would mention it because it was a number of years into this trade before another tech mentioned it. I have not done it often but have never had a becket break. Replacing an agraffe, always and I have to straighten the string and turn a new becket resulting in about 1/3 less coil.

Yes, I have found that this works, and sometimes the string becket breaks too.  The other thing that happens is that the string behaves as if it were new and requires several tunings to become stable again.  And sometimes it goes dead again very soon.  YMMV, you may have callbacks.  Don't ask how I know.

James, This may not pertain to your situation but if you drop tension on an old dead bass string and then bring it back up to tension using a coil lifter, it will often come back to life. This is an abbreviated version of removing the string from the hitch pin, looping it into one coil, and the moving the coil up and down the length of the string being careful of the damper.. Yes there might be some additional risk that the string breaks but this has yet to happen to me.

For your proposal, the cost of the strings will be determined by the number of them. The exact scale won't' matter. 

You can call or email the string makers to ask if they will have the scale. Mapes, Schaff, J.D. Grandt, Heller Bass are easily found online. Grandt and Heller are eager for out business, they show up for every convention and are easy to work with. Both of them can provide you with a measuring tape outfitted with a hitch pin loop to make measuring easier. 

It sounds like you will need to charge for a visit to the piano before ordering in any case, whether to find the model and serial number, or to measure the strings. I would quote for the maximum time I might need. 

I need to make a proposal to a new customer to replace all of the bass strings on her small Howard Grand made in Cincinnati Ohio. I have the serial number but no model number. However it is small and probably just under 5' . She told me it dates to about 1923 . All of the bass strings are dull and tubby with the worst being all the single unisons. I could make a string tracing and take micrometer measurements , winding length etc but didnt know if there is a rebuilder or string maker who already has this info. The last time I did such a project I did this on a large parlor grand Chas M Stieff and as I read the measurements off it turned out he had the scale . Because it will take time and effort and be done on site I need to quote accurately the costs and hours including passes to stabilize the new strings

With correct technique, broken beckets will be rare.

The technique: Pull on the string while loosening tension so that the string does not jam in the agraffe.

Under tension the string has bent at the hole in the agraffe. When  you turn back the tuning pin the coil becomes a spring because the string is trapped in the agraffe. Pressure builds as you turn back the tuning pin and it pops the beckett. Pull on the string in the speaking length so that the string travels through the agraffe as you back off the tuning pin. The spring does not form and the beckett isn't broken.

Wim and Paul, Good points. I just thought I would mention it because it was a number of years into this trade before another tech mentioned it. I have not done it often but have never had a becket break. Replacing an agraffe, always and I have to straighten the string and turn a new becket resulting in about 1/3 less coil.

Yes, I have found that this works, and sometimes the string becket breaks too.  The other thing that happens is that the string behaves as if it were new and requires several tunings to become stable again.  And sometimes it goes dead again very soon.  YMMV, you may have callbacks.  Don't ask how I know.

James, This may not pertain to your situation but if you drop tension on an old dead bass string and then bring it back up to tension using a coil lifter, it will often come back to life. This is an abbreviated version of removing the string from the hitch pin, looping it into one coil, and the moving the coil up and down the length of the string being careful of the damper.. Yes there might be some additional risk that the string breaks but this has yet to happen to me.

For your proposal, the cost of the strings will be determined by the number of them. The exact scale won't' matter. 

You can call or email the string makers to ask if they will have the scale. Mapes, Schaff, J.D. Grandt, Heller Bass are easily found online. Grandt and Heller are eager for out business, they show up for every convention and are easy to work with. Both of them can provide you with a measuring tape outfitted with a hitch pin loop to make measuring easier. 

It sounds like you will need to charge for a visit to the piano before ordering in any case, whether to find the model and serial number, or to measure the strings. I would quote for the maximum time I might need. 

I need to make a proposal to a new customer to replace all of the bass strings on her small Howard Grand made in Cincinnati Ohio. I have the serial number but no model number. However it is small and probably just under 5' . She told me it dates to about 1923 . All of the bass strings are dull and tubby with the worst being all the single unisons. I could make a string tracing and take micrometer measurements , winding length etc but didnt know if there is a rebuilder or string maker who already has this info. The last time I did such a project I did this on a large parlor grand Chas M Stieff and as I read the measurements off it turned out he had the scale . Because it will take time and effort and be done on site I need to quote accurately the costs and hours including passes to stabilize the new strings

FYI  I talked to Schaff and they quoted me a price for the strings advising me to do a string tracing and to send the first and last string in the bass section and the first and last in the low tenor after the break. Even though there is a possibility the plate has a string scale printed/embossed on it following their advice makes sense

With correct technique, broken beckets will be rare.

The technique: Pull on the string while loosening tension so that the string does not jam in the agraffe.

Under tension the string has bent at the hole in the agraffe. When  you turn back the tuning pin the coil becomes a spring because the string is trapped in the agraffe. Pressure builds as you turn back the tuning pin and it pops the beckett. Pull on the string in the speaking length so that the string travels through the agraffe as you back off the tuning pin. The spring does not form and the beckett isn't broken.

Wim and Paul, Good points. I just thought I would mention it because it was a number of years into this trade before another tech mentioned it. I have not done it often but have never had a becket break. Replacing an agraffe, always and I have to straighten the string and turn a new becket resulting in about 1/3 less coil.

Yes, I have found that this works, and sometimes the string becket breaks too.  The other thing that happens is that the string behaves as if it were new and requires several tunings to become stable again.  And sometimes it goes dead again very soon.  YMMV, you may have callbacks.  Don't ask how I know.

James, This may not pertain to your situation but if you drop tension on an old dead bass string and then bring it back up to tension using a coil lifter, it will often come back to life. This is an abbreviated version of removing the string from the hitch pin, looping it into one coil, and the moving the coil up and down the length of the string being careful of the damper.. Yes there might be some additional risk that the string breaks but this has yet to happen to me.

For your proposal, the cost of the strings will be determined by the number of them. The exact scale won't' matter. 

You can call or email the string makers to ask if they will have the scale. Mapes, Schaff, J.D. Grandt, Heller Bass are easily found online. Grandt and Heller are eager for out business, they show up for every convention and are easy to work with. Both of them can provide you with a measuring tape outfitted with a hitch pin loop to make measuring easier. 

It sounds like you will need to charge for a visit to the piano before ordering in any case, whether to find the model and serial number, or to measure the strings. I would quote for the maximum time I might need. 

I need to make a proposal to a new customer to replace all of the bass strings on her small Howard Grand made in Cincinnati Ohio. I have the serial number but no model number. However it is small and probably just under 5' . She told me it dates to about 1923 . All of the bass strings are dull and tubby with the worst being all the single unisons. I could make a string tracing and take micrometer measurements , winding length etc but didnt know if there is a rebuilder or string maker who already has this info. The last time I did such a project I did this on a large parlor grand Chas M Stieff and as I read the measurements off it turned out he had the scale . Because it will take time and effort and be done on site I need to quote accurately the costs and hours including passes to stabilize the new strings

This does make sense though I would think that if you are sending a rubbing that you could measure the core and wrap diameters of first and last of both sections without having to actually send the strings putting the piano out of commission.

I'm also attaching Baldwin string scales for anyone that might want them. The page 2 doc has the Howard mini grands.

FYI  I talked to Schaff and they quoted me a price for the strings advising me to do a string tracing and to send the first and last string in the bass section and the first and last in the low tenor after the break. Even though there is a possibility the plate has a string scale printed/embossed on it following their advice makes sense

With correct technique, broken beckets will be rare.

The technique: Pull on the string while loosening tension so that the string does not jam in the agraffe.

Under tension the string has bent at the hole in the agraffe. When  you turn back the tuning pin the coil becomes a spring because the string is trapped in the agraffe. Pressure builds as you turn back the tuning pin and it pops the beckett. Pull on the string in the speaking length so that the string travels through the agraffe as you back off the tuning pin. The spring does not form and the beckett isn't broken.

Wim and Paul, Good points. I just thought I would mention it because it was a number of years into this trade before another tech mentioned it. I have not done it often but have never had a becket break. Replacing an agraffe, always and I have to straighten the string and turn a new becket resulting in about 1/3 less coil.

Yes, I have found that this works, and sometimes the string becket breaks too.  The other thing that happens is that the string behaves as if it were new and requires several tunings to become stable again.  And sometimes it goes dead again very soon.  YMMV, you may have callbacks.  Don't ask how I know.

James, This may not pertain to your situation but if you drop tension on an old dead bass string and then bring it back up to tension using a coil lifter, it will often come back to life. This is an abbreviated version of removing the string from the hitch pin, looping it into one coil, and the moving the coil up and down the length of the string being careful of the damper.. Yes there might be some additional risk that the string breaks but this has yet to happen to me.

For your proposal, the cost of the strings will be determined by the number of them. The exact scale won't' matter. 

You can call or email the string makers to ask if they will have the scale. Mapes, Schaff, J.D. Grandt, Heller Bass are easily found online. Grandt and Heller are eager for out business, they show up for every convention and are easy to work with. Both of them can provide you with a measuring tape outfitted with a hitch pin loop to make measuring easier. 

It sounds like you will need to charge for a visit to the piano before ordering in any case, whether to find the model and serial number, or to measure the strings. I would quote for the maximum time I might need. 

I need to make a proposal to a new customer to replace all of the bass strings on her small Howard Grand made in Cincinnati Ohio. I have the serial number but no model number. However it is small and probably just under 5' . She told me it dates to about 1923 . All of the bass strings are dull and tubby with the worst being all the single unisons. I could make a string tracing and take micrometer measurements , winding length etc but didnt know if there is a rebuilder or string maker who already has this info. The last time I did such a project I did this on a large parlor grand Chas M Stieff and as I read the measurements off it turned out he had the scale . Because it will take time and effort and be done on site I need to quote accurately the costs and hours including passes to stabilize the new strings

Thank you very much there is a broken string at F6 and F# 6  I would rather not send strings just the rubbing not sure if customer will proceed with the proposal 

This does make sense though I would think that if you are sending a rubbing that you could measure the core and wrap diameters of first and last of both sections without having to actually send the strings putting the piano out of commission.

I'm also attaching Baldwin string scales for anyone that might want them. The page 2 doc has the Howard mini grands.

FYI  I talked to Schaff and they quoted me a price for the strings advising me to do a string tracing and to send the first and last string in the bass section and the first and last in the low tenor after the break. Even though there is a possibility the plate has a string scale printed/embossed on it following their advice makes sense

With correct technique, broken beckets will be rare.

The technique: Pull on the string while loosening tension so that the string does not jam in the agraffe.

Under tension the string has bent at the hole in the agraffe. When  you turn back the tuning pin the coil becomes a spring because the string is trapped in the agraffe. Pressure builds as you turn back the tuning pin and it pops the beckett. Pull on the string in the speaking length so that the string travels through the agraffe as you back off the tuning pin. The spring does not form and the beckett isn't broken.

Wim and Paul, Good points. I just thought I would mention it because it was a number of years into this trade before another tech mentioned it. I have not done it often but have never had a becket break. Replacing an agraffe, always and I have to straighten the string and turn a new becket resulting in about 1/3 less coil.

Yes, I have found that this works, and sometimes the string becket breaks too.  The other thing that happens is that the string behaves as if it were new and requires several tunings to become stable again.  And sometimes it goes dead again very soon.  YMMV, you may have callbacks.  Don't ask how I know.

James, This may not pertain to your situation but if you drop tension on an old dead bass string and then bring it back up to tension using a coil lifter, it will often come back to life. This is an abbreviated version of removing the string from the hitch pin, looping it into one coil, and the moving the coil up and down the length of the string being careful of the damper.. Yes there might be some additional risk that the string breaks but this has yet to happen to me.

For your proposal, the cost of the strings will be determined by the number of them. The exact scale won't' matter. 

You can call or email the string makers to ask if they will have the scale. Mapes, Schaff, J.D. Grandt, Heller Bass are easily found online. Grandt and Heller are eager for out business, they show up for every convention and are easy to work with. Both of them can provide you with a measuring tape outfitted with a hitch pin loop to make measuring easier. 

It sounds like you will need to charge for a visit to the piano before ordering in any case, whether to find the model and serial number, or to measure the strings. I would quote for the maximum time I might need. 

I need to make a proposal to a new customer to replace all of the bass strings on her small Howard Grand made in Cincinnati Ohio. I have the serial number but no model number. However it is small and probably just under 5' . She told me it dates to about 1923 . All of the bass strings are dull and tubby with the worst being all the single unisons. I could make a string tracing and take micrometer measurements , winding length etc but didnt know if there is a rebuilder or string maker who already has this info. The last time I did such a project I did this on a large parlor grand Chas M Stieff and as I read the measurements off it turned out he had the scale . Because it will take time and effort and be done on site I need to quote accurately the costs and hours including passes to stabilize the new strings