Re: Wire Size Calculations, Restringing Scales
By Bill Chapman
There are a number of books published in the '20s and '30s on wire scales for pianos. They are so numerous that almost any large library will have several. The graduation of wire size in pianos was something that gave the mathematically inclined builders huge amounts of material. I have heard re-scaled (restrung pianos with different sized wire) and it does make a difference in sound.
I am sure that the Krakauer model scale is listed in a publication somewhere. I'll check our local library as I researched this topic 20 years ago when I bought a French piano, built of solid (not veneer). Curiously, the piano was in very good shape with great hammers, and a simple art case of honduras mahogany with black striping. However the strings were rusted beyond measuring. Since the string size and the original pitch were both unknowns, restringing was only an educated guess. I settled for 465=A, and with a computer, calculated a scale. Don't try this without a calculator! I'll check the local library to find the piano scale book today and post it. BTW, the piano sounded fairly good with new strings.
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(Message sent Thu 25 Apr 1996, 18:09:19 GMT, from time zone GMT-0400.) |
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