Pianotech

Does anyone have any tips regarding reducing excessive false beats in the capo d'astro area of some grand pianos? It seems to happen most often with certain models of pianos, more than others. The false beats are not only annoying, but also hard to get a clean unison, and all the fidgeting makes rendering the string for a stable tuning difficult. 

String leveling, hammer fitting or CA glue on the bridge pins don't seem to do the trick in this case, for me at least. Has anyone had success with lowering string tension and lightly sanding the underside of the capo d'astro to remove the string grooves? Obviously, this is too time consuming for a standard tuning and not stable enough for just before a concert, so are there other simpler tricks, pre-concert that anyone has found helpful? Would a lubricant like Prolube at the contact point with the strings at the underside of the capo d'astro be safe and effective?

Does anyone have any tips regarding reducing excessive false beats in the capo d'astro area of some grand pianos? It seems to happen most often with certain models of pianos, more than others. The false beats are not only annoying, but also hard to get a clean unison, and all the fidgeting makes rendering the string for a stable tuning difficult. 

String leveling, hammer fitting or CA glue on the bridge pins don't seem to do the trick in this case, for me at least. Has anyone had success with lowering string tension and lightly sanding the underside of the capo d'astro to remove the string grooves? Obviously, this is too time consuming for a standard tuning and not stable enough for just before a concert, so are there other simpler tricks, pre-concert that anyone has found helpful? Would a lubricant like Prolube at the contact point with the strings at the underside of the capo d'astro be safe and effective?

You could try a Sraight-Mate

Does anyone have any tips regarding reducing excessive false beats in the capo d'astro area of some grand pianos? It seems to happen most often with certain models of pianos, more than others. The false beats are not only annoying, but also hard to get a clean unison, and all the fidgeting makes rendering the string for a stable tuning difficult. 

String leveling, hammer fitting or CA glue on the bridge pins don't seem to do the trick in this case, for me at least. Has anyone had success with lowering string tension and lightly sanding the underside of the capo d'astro to remove the string grooves? Obviously, this is too time consuming for a standard tuning and not stable enough for just before a concert, so are there other simpler tricks, pre-concert that anyone has found helpful? Would a lubricant like Prolube at the contact point with the strings at the underside of the capo d'astro be safe and effective?

David's suggestion has become my go-to protocol:  https://my.ptg.org/communities/community-home/digestviewer/viewthread?GroupId=43&MID=639373&CommunityKey=6265a40b-9fd2-4152-a628-bd7c7d770cbf&tab=digestviewer

You could try a Sraight-Mate

Does anyone have any tips regarding reducing excessive false beats in the capo d'astro area of some grand pianos? It seems to happen most often with certain models of pianos, more than others. The false beats are not only annoying, but also hard to get a clean unison, and all the fidgeting makes rendering the string for a stable tuning difficult. 

String leveling, hammer fitting or CA glue on the bridge pins don't seem to do the trick in this case, for me at least. Has anyone had success with lowering string tension and lightly sanding the underside of the capo d'astro to remove the string grooves? Obviously, this is too time consuming for a standard tuning and not stable enough for just before a concert, so are there other simpler tricks, pre-concert that anyone has found helpful? Would a lubricant like Prolube at the contact point with the strings at the underside of the capo d'astro be safe and effective?

Thanks, but the link times out and won't open...

David's suggestion has become my go-to protocol:  https://my.ptg.org/communities/community-home/digestviewer/viewthread?GroupId=43&MID=639373&CommunityKey=6265a40b-9fd2-4152-a628-bd7c7d770cbf&tab=digestviewer

You could try a Sraight-Mate

Does anyone have any tips regarding reducing excessive false beats in the capo d'astro area of some grand pianos? It seems to happen most often with certain models of pianos, more than others. The false beats are not only annoying, but also hard to get a clean unison, and all the fidgeting makes rendering the string for a stable tuning difficult. 

String leveling, hammer fitting or CA glue on the bridge pins don't seem to do the trick in this case, for me at least. Has anyone had success with lowering string tension and lightly sanding the underside of the capo d'astro to remove the string grooves? Obviously, this is too time consuming for a standard tuning and not stable enough for just before a concert, so are there other simpler tricks, pre-concert that anyone has found helpful? Would a lubricant like Prolube at the contact point with the strings at the underside of the capo d'astro be safe and effective?

Thanks, but the link times out and won't open...

David's suggestion has become my go-to protocol:  https://my.ptg.org/communities/community-home/digestviewer/viewthread?GroupId=43&MID=639373&CommunityKey=6265a40b-9fd2-4152-a628-bd7c7d770cbf&tab=digestviewer

You could try a Sraight-Mate

Does anyone have any tips regarding reducing excessive false beats in the capo d'astro area of some grand pianos? It seems to happen most often with certain models of pianos, more than others. The false beats are not only annoying, but also hard to get a clean unison, and all the fidgeting makes rendering the string for a stable tuning difficult. 

String leveling, hammer fitting or CA glue on the bridge pins don't seem to do the trick in this case, for me at least. Has anyone had success with lowering string tension and lightly sanding the underside of the capo d'astro to remove the string grooves? Obviously, this is too time consuming for a standard tuning and not stable enough for just before a concert, so are there other simpler tricks, pre-concert that anyone has found helpful? Would a lubricant like Prolube at the contact point with the strings at the underside of the capo d'astro be safe and effective?

Thanks, but the link times out and won't open...

David's suggestion has become my go-to protocol:  https://my.ptg.org/communities/community-home/digestviewer/viewthread?GroupId=43&MID=639373&CommunityKey=6265a40b-9fd2-4152-a628-bd7c7d770cbf&tab=digestviewer

You could try a Sraight-Mate

Does anyone have any tips regarding reducing excessive false beats in the capo d'astro area of some grand pianos? It seems to happen most often with certain models of pianos, more than others. The false beats are not only annoying, but also hard to get a clean unison, and all the fidgeting makes rendering the string for a stable tuning difficult. 

String leveling, hammer fitting or CA glue on the bridge pins don't seem to do the trick in this case, for me at least. Has anyone had success with lowering string tension and lightly sanding the underside of the capo d'astro to remove the string grooves? Obviously, this is too time consuming for a standard tuning and not stable enough for just before a concert, so are there other simpler tricks, pre-concert that anyone has found helpful? Would a lubricant like Prolube at the contact point with the strings at the underside of the capo d'astro be safe and effective?

I only understood myself to have posted a single link. In any case, you can search for the post using the search term "situ" in the site's search box. Result will be in the top 5. 

Thanks, but the link times out and won't open...

David's suggestion has become my go-to protocol:  https://my.ptg.org/communities/community-home/digestviewer/viewthread?GroupId=43&MID=639373&CommunityKey=6265a40b-9fd2-4152-a628-bd7c7d770cbf&tab=digestviewer

You could try a Sraight-Mate

Does anyone have any tips regarding reducing excessive false beats in the capo d'astro area of some grand pianos? It seems to happen most often with certain models of pianos, more than others. The false beats are not only annoying, but also hard to get a clean unison, and all the fidgeting makes rendering the string for a stable tuning difficult. 

String leveling, hammer fitting or CA glue on the bridge pins don't seem to do the trick in this case, for me at least. Has anyone had success with lowering string tension and lightly sanding the underside of the capo d'astro to remove the string grooves? Obviously, this is too time consuming for a standard tuning and not stable enough for just before a concert, so are there other simpler tricks, pre-concert that anyone has found helpful? Would a lubricant like Prolube at the contact point with the strings at the underside of the capo d'astro be safe and effective?

I'm sure the protocol is very worthwhile, but as I'm not a rebuilder, I can't see myself ever going to that extent for this issue. I wonder if anyone has tried taking down the tension in the area slightly, and moving the strings one string width to the right, or just enough to get them out of the grooves, re-tensioning the strings, re-spacing and re-fitting the hammers to the strings? (Assuming the dampers are newer and would conform to the new string position.) They would eventually create new grooves in the v-bar, but it might give 10 or 20 years of improved tone....?

I only understood myself to have posted a single link. In any case, you can search for the post using the search term "situ" in the site's search box. Result will be in the top 5. 

Thanks, but the link times out and won't open...

David's suggestion has become my go-to protocol:  https://my.ptg.org/communities/community-home/digestviewer/viewthread?GroupId=43&MID=639373&CommunityKey=6265a40b-9fd2-4152-a628-bd7c7d770cbf&tab=digestviewer

You could try a Sraight-Mate

Does anyone have any tips regarding reducing excessive false beats in the capo d'astro area of some grand pianos? It seems to happen most often with certain models of pianos, more than others. The false beats are not only annoying, but also hard to get a clean unison, and all the fidgeting makes rendering the string for a stable tuning difficult. 

String leveling, hammer fitting or CA glue on the bridge pins don't seem to do the trick in this case, for me at least. Has anyone had success with lowering string tension and lightly sanding the underside of the capo d'astro to remove the string grooves? Obviously, this is too time consuming for a standard tuning and not stable enough for just before a concert, so are there other simpler tricks, pre-concert that anyone has found helpful? Would a lubricant like Prolube at the contact point with the strings at the underside of the capo d'astro be safe and effective?

I'm sure the protocol is very worthwhile, but as I'm not a rebuilder, I can't see myself ever going to that extent for this issue. I wonder if anyone has tried taking down the tension in the area slightly, and moving the strings one string width to the right, or just enough to get them out of the grooves, re-tensioning the strings, re-spacing and re-fitting the hammers to the strings? (Assuming the dampers are newer and would conform to the new string position.) They would eventually create new grooves in the v-bar, but it might give 10 or 20 years of improved tone....?

I only understood myself to have posted a single link. In any case, you can search for the post using the search term "situ" in the site's search box. Result will be in the top 5. 

Thanks, but the link times out and won't open...

David's suggestion has become my go-to protocol:  https://my.ptg.org/communities/community-home/digestviewer/viewthread?GroupId=43&MID=639373&CommunityKey=6265a40b-9fd2-4152-a628-bd7c7d770cbf&tab=digestviewer

You could try a Sraight-Mate

Does anyone have any tips regarding reducing excessive false beats in the capo d'astro area of some grand pianos? It seems to happen most often with certain models of pianos, more than others. The false beats are not only annoying, but also hard to get a clean unison, and all the fidgeting makes rendering the string for a stable tuning difficult. 

String leveling, hammer fitting or CA glue on the bridge pins don't seem to do the trick in this case, for me at least. Has anyone had success with lowering string tension and lightly sanding the underside of the capo d'astro to remove the string grooves? Obviously, this is too time consuming for a standard tuning and not stable enough for just before a concert, so are there other simpler tricks, pre-concert that anyone has found helpful? Would a lubricant like Prolube at the contact point with the strings at the underside of the capo d'astro be safe and effective?

Carl,

I have a 20+ yr old Boston in my patient file that NEEDS this operation badly. When I took the pics to show the client the condition it was obvious that a previous tech had performed the "move the groove" dance in this area. The impressions were deep and the problem was back. Her eyes widened as she saw the mess. 

I'm not a fan of doing this in place...but maybe. The whole thing SHOULD be restrung as she's a heavy operator. But by the hour, the bill will be what the bill will be. I didn't create the problem, but I know how to cure it. 

Peter Grey Piano Doctor 

I'm sure the protocol is very worthwhile, but as I'm not a rebuilder, I can't see myself ever going to that extent for this issue. I wonder if anyone has tried taking down the tension in the area slightly, and moving the strings one string width to the right, or just enough to get them out of the grooves, re-tensioning the strings, re-spacing and re-fitting the hammers to the strings? (Assuming the dampers are newer and would conform to the new string position.) They would eventually create new grooves in the v-bar, but it might give 10 or 20 years of improved tone....?

I only understood myself to have posted a single link. In any case, you can search for the post using the search term "situ" in the site's search box. Result will be in the top 5. 

Thanks, but the link times out and won't open...

David's suggestion has become my go-to protocol:  https://my.ptg.org/communities/community-home/digestviewer/viewthread?GroupId=43&MID=639373&CommunityKey=6265a40b-9fd2-4152-a628-bd7c7d770cbf&tab=digestviewer

You could try a Sraight-Mate

Does anyone have any tips regarding reducing excessive false beats in the capo d'astro area of some grand pianos? It seems to happen most often with certain models of pianos, more than others. The false beats are not only annoying, but also hard to get a clean unison, and all the fidgeting makes rendering the string for a stable tuning difficult. 

String leveling, hammer fitting or CA glue on the bridge pins don't seem to do the trick in this case, for me at least. Has anyone had success with lowering string tension and lightly sanding the underside of the capo d'astro to remove the string grooves? Obviously, this is too time consuming for a standard tuning and not stable enough for just before a concert, so are there other simpler tricks, pre-concert that anyone has found helpful? Would a lubricant like Prolube at the contact point with the strings at the underside of the capo d'astro be safe and effective?

Back in about 2019 I had a client with a persistent string breakage problem on his Kawai RX-2.  I restrung the treble using Paulello XM wire, and while I was at it, reshaped the v-bar using David's protocol.  I did the whole job on site, and billed 5 hours of labor.  Maybe I spent a little more time than that, but maybe not.  I don't remember for sure.  In any case, the client was pleased with the result.

Carl,

I have a 20+ yr old Boston in my patient file that NEEDS this operation badly. When I took the pics to show the client the condition it was obvious that a previous tech had performed the "move the groove" dance in this area. The impressions were deep and the problem was back. Her eyes widened as she saw the mess. 

I'm not a fan of doing this in place...but maybe. The whole thing SHOULD be restrung as she's a heavy operator. But by the hour, the bill will be what the bill will be. I didn't create the problem, but I know how to cure it. 

Peter Grey Piano Doctor 

I'm sure the protocol is very worthwhile, but as I'm not a rebuilder, I can't see myself ever going to that extent for this issue. I wonder if anyone has tried taking down the tension in the area slightly, and moving the strings one string width to the right, or just enough to get them out of the grooves, re-tensioning the strings, re-spacing and re-fitting the hammers to the strings? (Assuming the dampers are newer and would conform to the new string position.) They would eventually create new grooves in the v-bar, but it might give 10 or 20 years of improved tone....?

I only understood myself to have posted a single link. In any case, you can search for the post using the search term "situ" in the site's search box. Result will be in the top 5. 

Thanks, but the link times out and won't open...

David's suggestion has become my go-to protocol:  https://my.ptg.org/communities/community-home/digestviewer/viewthread?GroupId=43&MID=639373&CommunityKey=6265a40b-9fd2-4152-a628-bd7c7d770cbf&tab=digestviewer

You could try a Sraight-Mate

Does anyone have any tips regarding reducing excessive false beats in the capo d'astro area of some grand pianos? It seems to happen most often with certain models of pianos, more than others. The false beats are not only annoying, but also hard to get a clean unison, and all the fidgeting makes rendering the string for a stable tuning difficult. 

String leveling, hammer fitting or CA glue on the bridge pins don't seem to do the trick in this case, for me at least. Has anyone had success with lowering string tension and lightly sanding the underside of the capo d'astro to remove the string grooves? Obviously, this is too time consuming for a standard tuning and not stable enough for just before a concert, so are there other simpler tricks, pre-concert that anyone has found helpful? Would a lubricant like Prolube at the contact point with the strings at the underside of the capo d'astro be safe and effective?