Pianotech

  • 1.  Buzzing bass strings

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 20 days ago

    I recently repaired a bass bridge on a Charles Stieff grand that had been rebuilt in 2017. The bass was really nice before I did the work, but I'm getting a lot of buzzing now. I did twist the strings (yes, in the direction of the winding). My question is: if the strings are twisted too much, will they buzz? I'm asking before I take the strings off the hitch pins and start over again.

    Thanks in advance

    Stewart Freedman



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    Stewart Freedman, RPT
    Freedman Piano Service
    Akron, OH
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  • 2.  RE: Buzzing bass strings

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 20 days ago
    If you twist the strings too much, they will likely become deadened, not buzzy.  Just try taking one off and let it unwind.  Put it back on and see how it sounds.  





  • 3.  RE: Buzzing bass strings

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 19 days ago
    Also if you twist them too much, they will break. Ask how I know. I was not able to revive one, and I can't remember how many twists it did, but it did not like it.

    Victor Bélanger RPT
    Belmont, MA




  • 4.  RE: Buzzing bass strings

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 19 days ago
    Sorry to be late to the discussion, but are you sure the buzzing is coming from the strings themselves and not some other place?  Did you try pushing down on the bridge while playing to see if the buzzing stopped? Have someone else play the notes while you press or push on other parts of the piano. Listen to where the buzz is coming from. 

    After I rebuilt a piano, there were a couple of bass notes that didn't sound right. I twisted the strings twice, but the sound didn't change. In desperation I put the strings back on without twisting, and wouldn't you know it, the buzz went away, and they sounded great. Just sayin'. 



    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Buzzing bass strings

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 19 days ago

    The spirit of Ron Nossaman might not look kindly on the spirit of "just sayin' ".  For what it's worth.



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    David Skolnik [RPT]
    Hastings-on-Hudson NY
    (917) 589-2625
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    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: Buzzing bass strings

    Posted 19 days ago

    If the strings were made by Arledge they presumably did not need twisting when installing.

    What did you do with the strings while you were repairing the bridge?

    What repair did you do?



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    Ed Sutton
    ed440@me.com
    (980) 254-7413
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  • 7.  RE: Buzzing bass strings

    Member
    Posted 18 days ago

    It didnt sound from the original post that new strings where put on or what the bridge repair was such as a new cap, epoxy in the bridge pin holes etc. I pit a full set of bass strings in a Chass Stieff Parlor Grand that had a section of 21 bass strings with agraffes in the low tenor no problems with buzzes and they where Arledge strings that transformed the piano. I only replaced a few at a time to keep the tension somewhat even on the plate All of the bass strings except the 21 I mentioned ran from left to right under all the other strings . Did you try seating the strings at the bridge pins , hitch pins and get tight coils ?



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    James Kelly
    Owner- Fur Elise Piano Service
    Pawleys Island SC
    (843) 325-4357
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    Original Message


  • 8.  RE: Buzzing bass strings

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 18 days ago

    James, sounds like I'm working on a similar model. 6' built in 1924. Really well made instrument with a great tone. The wound strings in the tenor section are on their own bridge. 

    Thanks, everyone, for your responses.



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    Stewart Freedman, RPT
    Freedman Piano Service
    Akron, OH
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    Original Message


  • 9.  RE: Buzzing bass strings

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 18 days ago

    My first thought was that they were Arledge strings, which I liked to use. I called and he couldn't find a record of this piano in my orders. So I assume they are from Mapes. Long story short, the noises were due to voicing issues. The hammers needed to be squared to the strings and the hammers themselves needed attention. This piano seems to be pretty sensitive to alignment and voicing.

    Ed, the bridge had developed stress cracks at the bridge pins. I removed the strings and threaded them in order on a piece of copper wire, then put them aside on the plate. The strings and plate were protected. Bridge pins were pulled and kept in order. Thin CA glue was put in holes. Holes were drilled to size and pins were epoxied back into place. Bass section was re-strung and pulled to pitch. I think pretty standard stuff.  Thanks



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    Stewart Freedman, RPT
    Freedman Piano Service
    Akron, OH
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    Original Message