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Wonky S&S scaling

  • 1.  Wonky S&S scaling

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 03-24-2026 21:27

    Hello, I have an old S&S in the shop for partial restoration for a school. It was previously a player, so I'm not exactly sure how the model works with these. Perhaps an L (see pics)? The old rusty strings are not original, as I found the pinblock was replaced at some point (11-ply block). The original scale is not available in the plate, as it was (badly) refinished at some point. I noticed a number of anomalies in the scaling this evening, most disturbing some jumping back and forth between sizes and many unisons had different size wire diameters-- as if someone tried to "transition" between string sizes by splitting unisons. The data below is roughly what I was able to collect:

    ____________

    2 tenor bi-cords

    4, size 19

    2, 18

    12, 17

    4, 16.5

    4, 16

    STRUT

    3, 16

    6, 15

    6, 14.5

    2, 14

    STRUT

    3, 14.5

    4, 14

    10, 13

    ____________

    If anyone can provide the correct scaling, I would very much appreciate it. Thank you!



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    Tim Foster RPT
    New Oxford PA
    (470) 231-6074
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  • 2.  RE: Wonky S&S scaling

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 03-24-2026 22:11

    If you can supply the speaking lengths in millimeters, your chance of getting really valuable help goes way up. 



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    Floyd Gadd RPT
    Regina SK
    (306) 502-9103
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  • 3.  RE: Wonky S&S scaling

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 03-24-2026 22:35
    that would be a M scale. (4 bichords in the treble)






  • 4.  RE: Wonky S&S scaling

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 03-25-2026 14:06

    No that's not correct. The M has two bi chords in the tenor, the S has four, the A has five, the O,L, B and D have none. You can easily tell the models apart by that alone. the notable difference between the model L and the model O is in the shape of the tail, with the L being more squared off  



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    David Love RPT
    www.davidlovepianos.com
    davidlovepianos@comcast.net
    415 407 8320
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    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Wonky S&S scaling

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 03-25-2026 18:39
    David.

    I guess there is a difference of interpretation. To me 4 bichords equal two notes.

    Wim
    Sent from my iPhone


    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: Wonky S&S scaling

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 03-25-2026 21:21

    Ok but that's incorrect terminology. A bi-chord means two "chords" or strings. A mono-chord, one string, a tri-chord, three strings. In the bass, the M has 10 mono-chords and 16 wrapped bi-bichords. There are two wrapped bi-chords at the bottom of the tenor section. 

    We need to be consistent with our terminology. 



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    David Love RPT
    www.davidlovepianos.com
    davidlovepianos@comcast.net
    415 407 8320
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: Wonky S&S scaling

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 03-25-2026 14:18

    Two tenor bichords

     plain wire
    #19 - 4 (unisons)
    #18 -  2 
    #17 - 12 
    #16.5 - 6 
    #16 - 5 
    #15.5 - 6 
    #15 - 6 
    #14.5 - 5
    #14 -  4 
    #13.5 - 4 
    #13 - 6 



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    David Love RPT
    www.davidlovepianos.com
    davidlovepianos@comcast.net
    415 407 8320
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 8.  RE: Wonky S&S scaling

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 03-24-2026 23:06

    Hi Tim,

    My favorite method to identify a Steinway really quickly is to count the plate web cooling holes. Unless the piano has 4, you hardly need to look at anything else. 

    S-5

    M-6

    O,L, A -4

    B -5

    D-8

    This piano has 6, which makes it functionally a model M

    (I say "functionally" because sometimes the extended case style accommodating the pneumatic player system altered the model name, but this wouldn't affect scaling.)

    I've attached page 18 from Chapter 7 of the World-Wide Technical Reference Guide here which shows the scale you're looking for

    Steinway & Sons World-Wide Technical Reference Guide: Chapter 7 Page 18



    Email me and I'll send you the entire guide



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    Daniel DeBiasio
    Technical Education & Support
    ddebiasio@steinway.com
    718-267-3229
    Steinway & Sons
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  • 9.  RE: Wonky S&S scaling

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 03-25-2026 10:43
    Two tenor bichords says model M. Proper scale is readily available from Steinway and many other sources.
    Sent from my iPhone




  • 10.  RE: Wonky S&S scaling

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 03-26-2026 09:07

    Thank you everyone! Daniel, thank you for the info and confirming that the extended case doesn't alter scaling- that was my primary concern since I wouldn't know where to find the scaling info on a non-standard model.



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    Tim Foster RPT
    New Oxford PA
    (470) 231-6074
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    Original Message


  • 11.  RE: Wonky S&S scaling

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 03-26-2026 18:06

    I am aware of two elongated Steinway cases:  the XR and the OR.  I believe that these are the M and O scales respectively. There may be other elongated

    cases as well, to allow for the DuoArt mechanism and elongated keys. Using the palates as a guide is good advice.



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    Parker Leigh RPT
    Winchester VA
    (540) 722-3865
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