Pianotech

Hello all,

I have a customer who owns a Yamaha GH-1 grand piano. He is a jazz pianist.

He has owned the piano for over 20 years. I started tuning for him about three years ago. Strangely, he is having strings break in the tenor/treble every few months. So far, I have replaced about 6 strings in the past year or so. He says his playing style has never changed and he never had a string break for the first 20 years.

I cannot understand why this is happening to him. My other customers with GH-1, GA-1, GB-1,etc. have no problems with this issue.

The strings look clean with no rust. I am at a loss to explain this.

I'm wondering if anyone else has ever experienced this issue or might otherwise have some explanation as to what is causing this issue.

I don't have the serial number available right now but it is about 25 or 30 years old.

Thanks in advance for any feedback!

Hello all,

I have a customer who owns a Yamaha GH-1 grand piano. He is a jazz pianist.

He has owned the piano for over 20 years. I started tuning for him about three years ago. Strangely, he is having strings break in the tenor/treble every few months. So far, I have replaced about 6 strings in the past year or so. He says his playing style has never changed and he never had a string break for the first 20 years.

I cannot understand why this is happening to him. My other customers with GH-1, GA-1, GB-1,etc. have no problems with this issue.

The strings look clean with no rust. I am at a loss to explain this.

I'm wondering if anyone else has ever experienced this issue or might otherwise have some explanation as to what is causing this issue.

I don't have the serial number available right now but it is about 25 or 30 years old.

Thanks in advance for any feedback!

Hello all,

I have a customer who owns a Yamaha GH-1 grand piano. He is a jazz pianist.

He has owned the piano for over 20 years. I started tuning for him about three years ago. Strangely, he is having strings break in the tenor/treble every few months. So far, I have replaced about 6 strings in the past year or so. He says his playing style has never changed and he never had a string break for the first 20 years.

I cannot understand why this is happening to him. My other customers with GH-1, GA-1, GB-1,etc. have no problems with this issue.

The strings look clean with no rust. I am at a loss to explain this.

I'm wondering if anyone else has ever experienced this issue or might otherwise have some explanation as to what is causing this issue.

I don't have the serial number available right now but it is about 25 or 30 years old.

Thanks in advance for any feedback!

Take four pieces of coat hanger wire, bend them individually  back and forth 40 times.

Do that every day. Do you think they'll all break on the same day?

Hello all,

I have a customer who owns a Yamaha GH-1 grand piano. He is a jazz pianist.

He has owned the piano for over 20 years. I started tuning for him about three years ago. Strangely, he is having strings break in the tenor/treble every few months. So far, I have replaced about 6 strings in the past year or so. He says his playing style has never changed and he never had a string break for the first 20 years.

I cannot understand why this is happening to him. My other customers with GH-1, GA-1, GB-1,etc. have no problems with this issue.

The strings look clean with no rust. I am at a loss to explain this.

I'm wondering if anyone else has ever experienced this issue or might otherwise have some explanation as to what is causing this issue.

I don't have the serial number available right now but it is about 25 or 30 years old.

Thanks in advance for any feedback!

I have encountered many of these small grands in professional settings that get a lot of string breakage around the 6th octave after about 12 or so years of heavy use. If this person is working out on the piano maybe slightly less than 20-25 hours a week perhaps it would take 20 years for the wires to start to fatigue. Replacing all the strings in the section would allow you to dress the capo bar more thoroughly. If the tuning pins are still tight you can retain them and just put in new strings, it's quite possible to do a good neat job keeping the old pins in place and just turning them out 270º. From what I've gleaned, the common opinion is that it presents no problem lowering the tension from a single section on the piano.

Take four pieces of coat hanger wire, bend them individually  back and forth 40 times.

Do that every day. Do you think they'll all break on the same day?

Hello all,

I have a customer who owns a Yamaha GH-1 grand piano. He is a jazz pianist.

He has owned the piano for over 20 years. I started tuning for him about three years ago. Strangely, he is having strings break in the tenor/treble every few months. So far, I have replaced about 6 strings in the past year or so. He says his playing style has never changed and he never had a string break for the first 20 years.

I cannot understand why this is happening to him. My other customers with GH-1, GA-1, GB-1,etc. have no problems with this issue.

The strings look clean with no rust. I am at a loss to explain this.

I'm wondering if anyone else has ever experienced this issue or might otherwise have some explanation as to what is causing this issue.

I don't have the serial number available right now but it is about 25 or 30 years old.

Thanks in advance for any feedback!

If he has a heavy touch, then it might be wise to restring the entire section with Paulello XM wire, and perhaps the top section as well.  Take the lid off and turn the piano upside down on a carpeted floor, or padding that you bring.  Dress the capo disaster bar with files until all grooves are gone, then carefully polish the V bar with fret erasers from Stewart MacDonald, which go from 200 up to 8000 grit.  Friction is the enemy here.  It will sound better and wear more slowly, as the wire will render over the bar more readily during playing.  Stiction is friction and the enemy, stick-slip, stick-slip, stick slip building up plastic deformation on the contact patch on the V bar.  The cast iron is less hard than steel and less resistant to deformation.

I have not tried to calculate it for the contacting surface on the V bar, but I recently did so for a .040" string on a .086" bridge pin, tension 160 pounds, string deflection at the pin 12 degrees - a real world scenario.  It first calculated the contacting surface area on the pin, which is about .05 mm!  Yep.  It then calculated the pressure with which the string would be contacting the pin surface with, and that is 200,000 psi !!  The commonly used soft steel pins that are copper-washed and are commonly used give up the ghost and plastically deform at 60,000 psi.  I don't want to be a bridge pin when I grow up, I can't take the pressure!

The bearing surface on the v bar is larger so the pressure is more distributed, but the casting (even hardened) is much softer.  The funky noises we hear coming from the V bar are tonal artifacts coming from plastic deformation in the wire itself at the contact patch.  The plastic deformation in the wire continues until the wire breaks.  A heavy hand in fortissimo blows stacks more pressure on top of the 200,000 psi, accelerating the deterioration.  If the pianist has a heavy hand and the piano has not been serviced with hammer shaping, that compounds the misery with the broad flattened surface of the hammer..  

I have encountered many of these small grands in professional settings that get a lot of string breakage around the 6th octave after about 12 or so years of heavy use. If this person is working out on the piano maybe slightly less than 20-25 hours a week perhaps it would take 20 years for the wires to start to fatigue. Replacing all the strings in the section would allow you to dress the capo bar more thoroughly. If the tuning pins are still tight you can retain them and just put in new strings, it's quite possible to do a good neat job keeping the old pins in place and just turning them out 270º. From what I've gleaned, the common opinion is that it presents no problem lowering the tension from a single section on the piano.

Take four pieces of coat hanger wire, bend them individually  back and forth 40 times.

Do that every day. Do you think they'll all break on the same day?

Hello all,

I have a customer who owns a Yamaha GH-1 grand piano. He is a jazz pianist.

He has owned the piano for over 20 years. I started tuning for him about three years ago. Strangely, he is having strings break in the tenor/treble every few months. So far, I have replaced about 6 strings in the past year or so. He says his playing style has never changed and he never had a string break for the first 20 years.

I cannot understand why this is happening to him. My other customers with GH-1, GA-1, GB-1,etc. have no problems with this issue.

The strings look clean with no rust. I am at a loss to explain this.

I'm wondering if anyone else has ever experienced this issue or might otherwise have some explanation as to what is causing this issue.

I don't have the serial number available right now but it is about 25 or 30 years old.

Thanks in advance for any feedback!

I will second Will's comments. 

What the vast majority of people don't know (because they have been purposely kept in the dark about it) is that the "design lifespan" of a piano (when subjected to "normal" usage and typical environmental exposure) is roughly 30-40 years. What this means is that by this time, one or more major components in the instrument will be in a state of serious decline and will be unable to perform at expected standards (a.k.a., in the process of failing).  This is KNOWN clearly understood by the designers and builders, but carefully concealed from the buying and using public. 

Owners need to KNOW THE FACTS. And if the usage level exceeds "normal" (homeowner) levels the the design lifespan is reduced accordingly. Simple logic. 

This piano is in this category. It is simply acting AS DESIGNED. You need to inform the owner of these facts, plain and simple. His piano was not intended to last perpetually (like it or not), just as his automobile was not designed to. Both will need major parts replacement or rebuilding maintenance to keep going reliably past a certain point. 

Unfortunately piano technicians themselves tend to perpetuate the myth that pianos can last "lifetimes". That myth needs to be dispelled. It's your job lay it on the line and give him the honest truth. 

This piano needs complete restringing and plate reconditioning AT LEAST, and as Will suggested, under the circumstances, using stronger wire. 

Gotta face the facts, man!

Peter Grey Piano Doctor 

If he has a heavy touch, then it might be wise to restring the entire section with Paulello XM wire, and perhaps the top section as well.  Take the lid off and turn the piano upside down on a carpeted floor, or padding that you bring.  Dress the capo disaster bar with files until all grooves are gone, then carefully polish the V bar with fret erasers from Stewart MacDonald, which go from 200 up to 8000 grit.  Friction is the enemy here.  It will sound better and wear more slowly, as the wire will render over the bar more readily during playing.  Stiction is friction and the enemy, stick-slip, stick-slip, stick slip building up plastic deformation on the contact patch on the V bar.  The cast iron is less hard than steel and less resistant to deformation.

I have not tried to calculate it for the contacting surface on the V bar, but I recently did so for a .040" string on a .086" bridge pin, tension 160 pounds, string deflection at the pin 12 degrees - a real world scenario.  It first calculated the contacting surface area on the pin, which is about .05 mm!  Yep.  It then calculated the pressure with which the string would be contacting the pin surface with, and that is 200,000 psi !!  The commonly used soft steel pins that are copper-washed and are commonly used give up the ghost and plastically deform at 60,000 psi.  I don't want to be a bridge pin when I grow up, I can't take the pressure!

The bearing surface on the v bar is larger so the pressure is more distributed, but the casting (even hardened) is much softer.  The funky noises we hear coming from the V bar are tonal artifacts coming from plastic deformation in the wire itself at the contact patch.  The plastic deformation in the wire continues until the wire breaks.  A heavy hand in fortissimo blows stacks more pressure on top of the 200,000 psi, accelerating the deterioration.  If the pianist has a heavy hand and the piano has not been serviced with hammer shaping, that compounds the misery with the broad flattened surface of the hammer..  

I have encountered many of these small grands in professional settings that get a lot of string breakage around the 6th octave after about 12 or so years of heavy use. If this person is working out on the piano maybe slightly less than 20-25 hours a week perhaps it would take 20 years for the wires to start to fatigue. Replacing all the strings in the section would allow you to dress the capo bar more thoroughly. If the tuning pins are still tight you can retain them and just put in new strings, it's quite possible to do a good neat job keeping the old pins in place and just turning them out 270º. From what I've gleaned, the common opinion is that it presents no problem lowering the tension from a single section on the piano.

Take four pieces of coat hanger wire, bend them individually  back and forth 40 times.

Do that every day. Do you think they'll all break on the same day?

Hello all,

I have a customer who owns a Yamaha GH-1 grand piano. He is a jazz pianist.

He has owned the piano for over 20 years. I started tuning for him about three years ago. Strangely, he is having strings break in the tenor/treble every few months. So far, I have replaced about 6 strings in the past year or so. He says his playing style has never changed and he never had a string break for the first 20 years.

I cannot understand why this is happening to him. My other customers with GH-1, GA-1, GB-1,etc. have no problems with this issue.

The strings look clean with no rust. I am at a loss to explain this.

I'm wondering if anyone else has ever experienced this issue or might otherwise have some explanation as to what is causing this issue.

I don't have the serial number available right now but it is about 25 or 30 years old.

Thanks in advance for any feedback!

Original Message:
Sent: 9/27/2025 8:26:00 AM
From: Peter Grey
Subject: RE: Yamaha GH-1 strings breaking

I will second Will's comments. 

What the vast majority of people don't know (because they have been purposely kept in the dark about it) is that the "design lifespan" of a piano (when subjected to "normal" usage and typical environmental exposure) is roughly 30-40 years. What this means is that by this time, one or more major components in the instrument will be in a state of serious decline and will be unable to perform at expected standards (a.k.a., in the process of failing).  This is KNOWN clearly understood by the designers and builders, but carefully concealed from the buying and using public. 

Owners need to KNOW THE FACTS. And if the usage level exceeds "normal" (homeowner) levels the the design lifespan is reduced accordingly. Simple logic. 

This piano is in this category. It is simply acting AS DESIGNED. You need to inform the owner of these facts, plain and simple. His piano was not intended to last perpetually (like it or not), just as his automobile was not designed to. Both will need major parts replacement or rebuilding maintenance to keep going reliably past a certain point. 

Unfortunately piano technicians themselves tend to perpetuate the myth that pianos can last "lifetimes". That myth needs to be dispelled. It's your job lay it on the line and give him the honest truth. 

This piano needs complete restringing and plate reconditioning AT LEAST, and as Will suggested, under the circumstances, using stronger wire. 

Gotta face the facts, man!

Peter Grey Piano Doctor 

------------------------------
Peter Grey
Stratham NH
(603) 686-2395
pianodoctor57@gmail.com

Original Message:
Sent: 09-27-2025 05:29
From: William Truitt
Subject: Yamaha GH-1 strings breaking

If he has a heavy touch, then it might be wise to restring the entire section with Paulello XM wire, and perhaps the top section as well.  Take the lid off and turn the piano upside down on a carpeted floor, or padding that you bring.  Dress the capo disaster bar with files until all grooves are gone, then carefully polish the V bar with fret erasers from Stewart MacDonald, which go from 200 up to 8000 grit.  Friction is the enemy here.  It will sound better and wear more slowly, as the wire will render over the bar more readily during playing.  Stiction is friction and the enemy, stick-slip, stick-slip, stick slip building up plastic deformation on the contact patch on the V bar.  The cast iron is less hard than steel and less resistant to deformation.

I have not tried to calculate it for the contacting surface on the V bar, but I recently did so for a .040" string on a .086" bridge pin, tension 160 pounds, string deflection at the pin 12 degrees - a real world scenario.  It first calculated the contacting surface area on the pin, which is about .05 mm!  Yep.  It then calculated the pressure with which the string would be contacting the pin surface with, and that is 200,000 psi !!  The commonly used soft steel pins that are copper-washed and are commonly used give up the ghost and plastically deform at 60,000 psi.  I don't want to be a bridge pin when I grow up, I can't take the pressure!

The bearing surface on the v bar is larger so the pressure is more distributed, but the casting (even hardened) is much softer.  The funky noises we hear coming from the V bar are tonal artifacts coming from plastic deformation in the wire itself at the contact patch.  The plastic deformation in the wire continues until the wire breaks.  A heavy hand in fortissimo blows stacks more pressure on top of the 200,000 psi, accelerating the deterioration.  If the pianist has a heavy hand and the piano has not been serviced with hammer shaping, that compounds the misery with the broad flattened surface of the hammer..  

------------------------------
William Truitt RPT
Bridgewater NH
(603) 744-2277

Original Message:
Sent: 09-27-2025 02:22
From: Steven Rosenthal
Subject: Yamaha GH-1 strings breaking

I have encountered many of these small grands in professional settings that get a lot of string breakage around the 6th octave after about 12 or so years of heavy use. If this person is working out on the piano maybe slightly less than 20-25 hours a week perhaps it would take 20 years for the wires to start to fatigue. Replacing all the strings in the section would allow you to dress the capo bar more thoroughly. If the tuning pins are still tight you can retain them and just put in new strings, it's quite possible to do a good neat job keeping the old pins in place and just turning them out 270º. From what I've gleaned, the common opinion is that it presents no problem lowering the tension from a single section on the piano.

------------------------------
Steven Rosenthal RPT
Honolulu HI
(808) 521-7129

Original Message:
Sent: 09-26-2025 22:14
From: Larry Messerly
Subject: Yamaha GH-1 strings breaking

Take four pieces of coat hanger wire, bend them individually  back and forth 40 times.

Do that every day. Do you think they'll all break on the same day?

------------------------------
Larry Messerly, RPT
Bringing Harmony to Homes
www.lacrossepianotuning.com
ljmesserly@gmail.com
928-899-7292

Original Message:
Sent: 09-26-2025 21:51
From: Cary Thrift
Subject: Yamaha GH-1 strings breaking

Original Message:
Sent: 9/26/2025 9:43:00 PM
From: Wim Blees
Subject: RE: Yamaha GH-1 strings breaking

Original Message:
Sent: 9/26/2025 9:00:00 PM
From: Cary Thrift
Subject: Yamaha GH-1 strings breaking

Hello all,

I have a customer who owns a Yamaha GH-1 grand piano. He is a jazz pianist.

He has owned the piano for over 20 years. I started tuning for him about three years ago. Strangely, he is having strings break in the tenor/treble every few months. So far, I have replaced about 6 strings in the past year or so. He says his playing style has never changed and he never had a string break for the first 20 years.

I cannot understand why this is happening to him. My other customers with GH-1, GA-1, GB-1,etc. have no problems with this issue.

The strings look clean with no rust. I am at a loss to explain this.

I'm wondering if anyone else has ever experienced this issue or might otherwise have some explanation as to what is causing this issue.

I don't have the serial number available right now but it is about 25 or 30 years old.

Thanks in advance for any feedback!

------------------------------
Cary Thrift
Marietta GA
(770) 517-9871
------------------------------

Keith,

Supposedly the Paulello XM wire is somehow made stronger for the given diameter. Don't ask me to explain how as I don't know, but I've heard of others using this in high usage/stress environments with good results. I've only used it once in the high treble of a Kawai that was showing nearly 90% of breaking strength (based on standard specs and math protocols). .There must be some here who have used it more so. 

Nonetheless, even if standard wire was used, along with typical plate work, life extension would be improved. Might need to be done again though in 20 years... 😉 

Edit: I'd bet that the hammers are ready for replacement too  even if not worn to the wood. Hard, worn hammers break strings too.

Peter Grey Piano Doctor 

------------------------------
Peter Grey
Stratham NH
(603) 686-2395
pianodoctor57@gmail.com

Original Message:
Sent: 09-29-2025 11:25
From: Keith Akins
Subject: Yamaha GH-1 strings breaking

Original Message:
Sent: 9/27/2025 8:26:00 AM
From: Peter Grey
Subject: RE: Yamaha GH-1 strings breaking

I will second Will's comments. 

What the vast majority of people don't know (because they have been purposely kept in the dark about it) is that the "design lifespan" of a piano (when subjected to "normal" usage and typical environmental exposure) is roughly 30-40 years. What this means is that by this time, one or more major components in the instrument will be in a state of serious decline and will be unable to perform at expected standards (a.k.a., in the process of failing).  This is KNOWN clearly understood by the designers and builders, but carefully concealed from the buying and using public. 

Owners need to KNOW THE FACTS. And if the usage level exceeds "normal" (homeowner) levels the the design lifespan is reduced accordingly. Simple logic. 

This piano is in this category. It is simply acting AS DESIGNED. You need to inform the owner of these facts, plain and simple. His piano was not intended to last perpetually (like it or not), just as his automobile was not designed to. Both will need major parts replacement or rebuilding maintenance to keep going reliably past a certain point. 

Unfortunately piano technicians themselves tend to perpetuate the myth that pianos can last "lifetimes". That myth needs to be dispelled. It's your job lay it on the line and give him the honest truth. 

This piano needs complete restringing and plate reconditioning AT LEAST, and as Will suggested, under the circumstances, using stronger wire. 

Gotta face the facts, man!

Peter Grey Piano Doctor 

------------------------------
Peter Grey
Stratham NH
(603) 686-2395
pianodoctor57@gmail.com

Original Message:
Sent: 09-27-2025 05:29
From: William Truitt
Subject: Yamaha GH-1 strings breaking

If he has a heavy touch, then it might be wise to restring the entire section with Paulello XM wire, and perhaps the top section as well.  Take the lid off and turn the piano upside down on a carpeted floor, or padding that you bring.  Dress the capo disaster bar with files until all grooves are gone, then carefully polish the V bar with fret erasers from Stewart MacDonald, which go from 200 up to 8000 grit.  Friction is the enemy here.  It will sound better and wear more slowly, as the wire will render over the bar more readily during playing.  Stiction is friction and the enemy, stick-slip, stick-slip, stick slip building up plastic deformation on the contact patch on the V bar.  The cast iron is less hard than steel and less resistant to deformation.

I have not tried to calculate it for the contacting surface on the V bar, but I recently did so for a .040" string on a .086" bridge pin, tension 160 pounds, string deflection at the pin 12 degrees - a real world scenario.  It first calculated the contacting surface area on the pin, which is about .05 mm!  Yep.  It then calculated the pressure with which the string would be contacting the pin surface with, and that is 200,000 psi !!  The commonly used soft steel pins that are copper-washed and are commonly used give up the ghost and plastically deform at 60,000 psi.  I don't want to be a bridge pin when I grow up, I can't take the pressure!

The bearing surface on the v bar is larger so the pressure is more distributed, but the casting (even hardened) is much softer.  The funky noises we hear coming from the V bar are tonal artifacts coming from plastic deformation in the wire itself at the contact patch.  The plastic deformation in the wire continues until the wire breaks.  A heavy hand in fortissimo blows stacks more pressure on top of the 200,000 psi, accelerating the deterioration.  If the pianist has a heavy hand and the piano has not been serviced with hammer shaping, that compounds the misery with the broad flattened surface of the hammer..  

------------------------------
William Truitt RPT
Bridgewater NH
(603) 744-2277

Original Message:
Sent: 09-27-2025 02:22
From: Steven Rosenthal
Subject: Yamaha GH-1 strings breaking

I have encountered many of these small grands in professional settings that get a lot of string breakage around the 6th octave after about 12 or so years of heavy use. If this person is working out on the piano maybe slightly less than 20-25 hours a week perhaps it would take 20 years for the wires to start to fatigue. Replacing all the strings in the section would allow you to dress the capo bar more thoroughly. If the tuning pins are still tight you can retain them and just put in new strings, it's quite possible to do a good neat job keeping the old pins in place and just turning them out 270º. From what I've gleaned, the common opinion is that it presents no problem lowering the tension from a single section on the piano.

------------------------------
Steven Rosenthal RPT
Honolulu HI
(808) 521-7129

Original Message:
Sent: 09-26-2025 22:14
From: Larry Messerly
Subject: Yamaha GH-1 strings breaking

Take four pieces of coat hanger wire, bend them individually  back and forth 40 times.

Do that every day. Do you think they'll all break on the same day?

------------------------------
Larry Messerly, RPT
Bringing Harmony to Homes
www.lacrossepianotuning.com
ljmesserly@gmail.com
928-899-7292

Original Message:
Sent: 09-26-2025 21:51
From: Cary Thrift
Subject: Yamaha GH-1 strings breaking

Original Message:
Sent: 9/26/2025 9:43:00 PM
From: Wim Blees
Subject: RE: Yamaha GH-1 strings breaking

Original Message:
Sent: 9/26/2025 9:00:00 PM
From: Cary Thrift
Subject: Yamaha GH-1 strings breaking

Hello all,

I have a customer who owns a Yamaha GH-1 grand piano. He is a jazz pianist.

He has owned the piano for over 20 years. I started tuning for him about three years ago. Strangely, he is having strings break in the tenor/treble every few months. So far, I have replaced about 6 strings in the past year or so. He says his playing style has never changed and he never had a string break for the first 20 years.

I cannot understand why this is happening to him. My other customers with GH-1, GA-1, GB-1,etc. have no problems with this issue.

The strings look clean with no rust. I am at a loss to explain this.

I'm wondering if anyone else has ever experienced this issue or might otherwise have some explanation as to what is causing this issue.

I don't have the serial number available right now but it is about 25 or 30 years old.

Thanks in advance for any feedback!

------------------------------
Cary Thrift
Marietta GA
(770) 517-9871
------------------------------

The XM wire has a higher breaking load than the M type wire.  XM = 2600 to 3000 newton by mm2, M =  at 2200 to 2550 newton by mm2. M type is roughly equivalent to Roslau and Mapes wires.  In rescaling plain wire I all but never change diameters.  In rescaling the bass I change wire sizes as it benefits the scaling.  Peter's Kawai is an excellent example of a piano that would benefit from XM wire.  The wire will not sound as stressed either.

Keith,

Supposedly the Paulello XM wire is somehow made stronger for the given diameter. Don't ask me to explain how as I don't know, but I've heard of others using this in high usage/stress environments with good results. I've only used it once in the high treble of a Kawai that was showing nearly 90% of breaking strength (based on standard specs and math protocols). .There must be some here who have used it more so. 

Nonetheless, even if standard wire was used, along with typical plate work, life extension would be improved. Might need to be done again though in 20 years... 😉 

Edit: I'd bet that the hammers are ready for replacement too  even if not worn to the wood. Hard, worn hammers break strings too.

Peter Grey Piano Doctor 

------------------------------
Peter Grey
Stratham NH
(603) 686-2395
pianodoctor57@gmail.com

Original Message:
Sent: 09-29-2025 11:25
From: Keith Akins
Subject: Yamaha GH-1 strings breaking

Original Message:
Sent: 9/27/2025 8:26:00 AM
From: Peter Grey
Subject: RE: Yamaha GH-1 strings breaking

I will second Will's comments. 

What the vast majority of people don't know (because they have been purposely kept in the dark about it) is that the "design lifespan" of a piano (when subjected to "normal" usage and typical environmental exposure) is roughly 30-40 years. What this means is that by this time, one or more major components in the instrument will be in a state of serious decline and will be unable to perform at expected standards (a.k.a., in the process of failing).  This is KNOWN clearly understood by the designers and builders, but carefully concealed from the buying and using public. 

Owners need to KNOW THE FACTS. And if the usage level exceeds "normal" (homeowner) levels the the design lifespan is reduced accordingly. Simple logic. 

This piano is in this category. It is simply acting AS DESIGNED. You need to inform the owner of these facts, plain and simple. His piano was not intended to last perpetually (like it or not), just as his automobile was not designed to. Both will need major parts replacement or rebuilding maintenance to keep going reliably past a certain point. 

Unfortunately piano technicians themselves tend to perpetuate the myth that pianos can last "lifetimes". That myth needs to be dispelled. It's your job lay it on the line and give him the honest truth. 

This piano needs complete restringing and plate reconditioning AT LEAST, and as Will suggested, under the circumstances, using stronger wire. 

Gotta face the facts, man!

Peter Grey Piano Doctor 

------------------------------
Peter Grey
Stratham NH
(603) 686-2395
pianodoctor57@gmail.com

Original Message:
Sent: 09-27-2025 05:29
From: William Truitt
Subject: Yamaha GH-1 strings breaking

If he has a heavy touch, then it might be wise to restring the entire section with Paulello XM wire, and perhaps the top section as well.  Take the lid off and turn the piano upside down on a carpeted floor, or padding that you bring.  Dress the capo disaster bar with files until all grooves are gone, then carefully polish the V bar with fret erasers from Stewart MacDonald, which go from 200 up to 8000 grit.  Friction is the enemy here.  It will sound better and wear more slowly, as the wire will render over the bar more readily during playing.  Stiction is friction and the enemy, stick-slip, stick-slip, stick slip building up plastic deformation on the contact patch on the V bar.  The cast iron is less hard than steel and less resistant to deformation.

I have not tried to calculate it for the contacting surface on the V bar, but I recently did so for a .040" string on a .086" bridge pin, tension 160 pounds, string deflection at the pin 12 degrees - a real world scenario.  It first calculated the contacting surface area on the pin, which is about .05 mm!  Yep.  It then calculated the pressure with which the string would be contacting the pin surface with, and that is 200,000 psi !!  The commonly used soft steel pins that are copper-washed and are commonly used give up the ghost and plastically deform at 60,000 psi.  I don't want to be a bridge pin when I grow up, I can't take the pressure!

The bearing surface on the v bar is larger so the pressure is more distributed, but the casting (even hardened) is much softer.  The funky noises we hear coming from the V bar are tonal artifacts coming from plastic deformation in the wire itself at the contact patch.  The plastic deformation in the wire continues until the wire breaks.  A heavy hand in fortissimo blows stacks more pressure on top of the 200,000 psi, accelerating the deterioration.  If the pianist has a heavy hand and the piano has not been serviced with hammer shaping, that compounds the misery with the broad flattened surface of the hammer..  

------------------------------
William Truitt RPT
Bridgewater NH
(603) 744-2277

Original Message:
Sent: 09-27-2025 02:22
From: Steven Rosenthal
Subject: Yamaha GH-1 strings breaking

I have encountered many of these small grands in professional settings that get a lot of string breakage around the 6th octave after about 12 or so years of heavy use. If this person is working out on the piano maybe slightly less than 20-25 hours a week perhaps it would take 20 years for the wires to start to fatigue. Replacing all the strings in the section would allow you to dress the capo bar more thoroughly. If the tuning pins are still tight you can retain them and just put in new strings, it's quite possible to do a good neat job keeping the old pins in place and just turning them out 270º. From what I've gleaned, the common opinion is that it presents no problem lowering the tension from a single section on the piano.

------------------------------
Steven Rosenthal RPT
Honolulu HI
(808) 521-7129

Original Message:
Sent: 09-26-2025 22:14
From: Larry Messerly
Subject: Yamaha GH-1 strings breaking

Take four pieces of coat hanger wire, bend them individually  back and forth 40 times.

Do that every day. Do you think they'll all break on the same day?

------------------------------
Larry Messerly, RPT
Bringing Harmony to Homes
www.lacrossepianotuning.com
ljmesserly@gmail.com
928-899-7292

Original Message:
Sent: 09-26-2025 21:51
From: Cary Thrift
Subject: Yamaha GH-1 strings breaking

Original Message:
Sent: 9/26/2025 9:43:00 PM
From: Wim Blees
Subject: RE: Yamaha GH-1 strings breaking

Original Message:
Sent: 9/26/2025 9:00:00 PM
From: Cary Thrift
Subject: Yamaha GH-1 strings breaking

Hello all,

I have a customer who owns a Yamaha GH-1 grand piano. He is a jazz pianist.

He has owned the piano for over 20 years. I started tuning for him about three years ago. Strangely, he is having strings break in the tenor/treble every few months. So far, I have replaced about 6 strings in the past year or so. He says his playing style has never changed and he never had a string break for the first 20 years.

I cannot understand why this is happening to him. My other customers with GH-1, GA-1, GB-1,etc. have no problems with this issue.

The strings look clean with no rust. I am at a loss to explain this.

I'm wondering if anyone else has ever experienced this issue or might otherwise have some explanation as to what is causing this issue.

I don't have the serial number available right now but it is about 25 or 30 years old.

Thanks in advance for any feedback!

------------------------------
Cary Thrift
Marietta GA
(770) 517-9871
------------------------------

Hello all,

I have a customer who owns a Yamaha GH-1 grand piano. He is a jazz pianist.

He has owned the piano for over 20 years. I started tuning for him about three years ago. Strangely, he is having strings break in the tenor/treble every few months. So far, I have replaced about 6 strings in the past year or so. He says his playing style has never changed and he never had a string break for the first 20 years.

I cannot understand why this is happening to him. My other customers with GH-1, GA-1, GB-1,etc. have no problems with this issue.

The strings look clean with no rust. I am at a loss to explain this.

I'm wondering if anyone else has ever experienced this issue or might otherwise have some explanation as to what is causing this issue.

I don't have the serial number available right now but it is about 25 or 30 years old.

Thanks in advance for any feedback!

Might want to increase letoff

Hello all,

I have a customer who owns a Yamaha GH-1 grand piano. He is a jazz pianist.

He has owned the piano for over 20 years. I started tuning for him about three years ago. Strangely, he is having strings break in the tenor/treble every few months. So far, I have replaced about 6 strings in the past year or so. He says his playing style has never changed and he never had a string break for the first 20 years.

I cannot understand why this is happening to him. My other customers with GH-1, GA-1, GB-1,etc. have no problems with this issue.

The strings look clean with no rust. I am at a loss to explain this.

I'm wondering if anyone else has ever experienced this issue or might otherwise have some explanation as to what is causing this issue.

I don't have the serial number available right now but it is about 25 or 30 years old.

Thanks in advance for any feedback!

I've heard a lot of technicians recommend backing off let-off, but I disagree with that, at least as a permanent solution. Let-off is designed to be close to the strings. When it's not, the action doesn't function as it should which leads to heavier playing in an effort to compensate.

Backing it off only addresses the symptom not the problem. To my mind, addressing the root cause is necessary. That will probably involve restringing. 

I'm facing a similar situation right now with a Blüthner that's breaking bass strings even though the pianist is not playing it too heavily. It was restrung 8 years ago and the strings should be fine, but they're not. I don't really know why, but suspect it may be due to the shape of the hammers, which are pretty worn. I've seen that lead to strings breaking before. We'll probably end up shaping the hammers in addition to replacing the strings as they break. But I know the pianist and backing off let-off would not work for him. 

Might want to increase letoff

Hello all,

I have a customer who owns a Yamaha GH-1 grand piano. He is a jazz pianist.

He has owned the piano for over 20 years. I started tuning for him about three years ago. Strangely, he is having strings break in the tenor/treble every few months. So far, I have replaced about 6 strings in the past year or so. He says his playing style has never changed and he never had a string break for the first 20 years.

I cannot understand why this is happening to him. My other customers with GH-1, GA-1, GB-1,etc. have no problems with this issue.

The strings look clean with no rust. I am at a loss to explain this.

I'm wondering if anyone else has ever experienced this issue or might otherwise have some explanation as to what is causing this issue.

I don't have the serial number available right now but it is about 25 or 30 years old.

Thanks in advance for any feedback!

Hammers with poor resilience in the shoulders will aggravate this problem.  Could also be a scaling and/or wire problem. Heavily lacquered hammers

are a common cause.

I've heard a lot of technicians recommend backing off let-off, but I disagree with that, at least as a permanent solution. Let-off is designed to be close to the strings. When it's not, the action doesn't function as it should which leads to heavier playing in an effort to compensate.

Backing it off only addresses the symptom not the problem. To my mind, addressing the root cause is necessary. That will probably involve restringing. 

I'm facing a similar situation right now with a Blüthner that's breaking bass strings even though the pianist is not playing it too heavily. It was restrung 8 years ago and the strings should be fine, but they're not. I don't really know why, but suspect it may be due to the shape of the hammers, which are pretty worn. I've seen that lead to strings breaking before. We'll probably end up shaping the hammers in addition to replacing the strings as they break. But I know the pianist and backing off let-off would not work for him. 

Might want to increase letoff

Hello all,

I have a customer who owns a Yamaha GH-1 grand piano. He is a jazz pianist.

He has owned the piano for over 20 years. I started tuning for him about three years ago. Strangely, he is having strings break in the tenor/treble every few months. So far, I have replaced about 6 strings in the past year or so. He says his playing style has never changed and he never had a string break for the first 20 years.

I cannot understand why this is happening to him. My other customers with GH-1, GA-1, GB-1,etc. have no problems with this issue.

The strings look clean with no rust. I am at a loss to explain this.

I'm wondering if anyone else has ever experienced this issue or might otherwise have some explanation as to what is causing this issue.

I don't have the serial number available right now but it is about 25 or 30 years old.

Thanks in advance for any feedback!

Randall,

I hear you. My personal 1895 Steinway upright still has its original strings, sounds good, and is perfectly tunable. However the action was toast and I replaced it with WNG action. The soundboard, while still "good" ain't what it used to be, and due to lost crown the string level has sunk to where buzzes now occur in an area where the "less than ideal (very rounded)" capo bar (equivalent) is problematic below a certain humidity level (a.k.a., needing R&R in the belly system). I'll get to that...eventually 😉.  So yes, there is still "life" left in it, but not without some major work. 

Google's Gemini bot had the following to say about "design lifespan":

Hammers with poor resilience in the shoulders will aggravate this problem.  Could also be a scaling and/or wire problem. Heavily lacquered hammers

are a common cause.

I've heard a lot of technicians recommend backing off let-off, but I disagree with that, at least as a permanent solution. Let-off is designed to be close to the strings. When it's not, the action doesn't function as it should which leads to heavier playing in an effort to compensate.

Backing it off only addresses the symptom not the problem. To my mind, addressing the root cause is necessary. That will probably involve restringing. 

I'm facing a similar situation right now with a Blüthner that's breaking bass strings even though the pianist is not playing it too heavily. It was restrung 8 years ago and the strings should be fine, but they're not. I don't really know why, but suspect it may be due to the shape of the hammers, which are pretty worn. I've seen that lead to strings breaking before. We'll probably end up shaping the hammers in addition to replacing the strings as they break. But I know the pianist and backing off let-off would not work for him. 

Might want to increase letoff

Hello all,

I have a customer who owns a Yamaha GH-1 grand piano. He is a jazz pianist.

He has owned the piano for over 20 years. I started tuning for him about three years ago. Strangely, he is having strings break in the tenor/treble every few months. So far, I have replaced about 6 strings in the past year or so. He says his playing style has never changed and he never had a string break for the first 20 years.

I cannot understand why this is happening to him. My other customers with GH-1, GA-1, GB-1,etc. have no problems with this issue.

The strings look clean with no rust. I am at a loss to explain this.

I'm wondering if anyone else has ever experienced this issue or might otherwise have some explanation as to what is causing this issue.

I don't have the serial number available right now but it is about 25 or 30 years old.

Thanks in advance for any feedback!