A position of a tuning pins piano unacceptable there

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maxim_tuner
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A position of a tuning pins piano unacceptable there

Post by maxim_tuner »

A position of a tuning pins upright piano Soviet-era 'Komitas' relative to each other unacceptable there.
In this video, we can clearly see that the holes in the iron plate 'the metal frame' for the piano pins are misaligned with each other. This position of the tuning pins relative to each other unacceptable there. Undoubtedly, this is a clear technological defect in the production of the basic component of the upright piano construction, namely 'the metal frame'.

Why such a defect occurred during the production of the upright piano iron plate, we can only speculate. However, sometimes in the practices of piano technicians, situations arise where the tuner risks breaking a string when tightening it by rotating the pin. All the holes in the upright piano iron plate must be in strict accordance with the technical regulations, as otherwise, the technician (the tuner) has to be extra careful to avoid breaking the string. In the case of this 'Komitas' piano from the Soviet era, these regulations were violated. In the sector (The third) octave o of any upright piano, the tuning pins are located very close to each other, as this is due to the fact that 'the iron plate' is angled within the piano casing 'the case', and this sector happens to have the longest strings without winding for each pin. Therefore, since each piano key has 3 strings that the hammer must strike simultaneously, the placement of the peg holes requires precise and permissible positioning here.

However, in the video, there are holes and their tuning pins that are located in the middle of 'the 3-string chor' with an obvious rightward upward shift. Thus, the strings of neighboring pins are positioned directly on the edge of the pin located under the pin with the incorrect position in 'the metal frame'. What are the dangers of such improper string and pin placement?

As previously mentioned, one of the main dangers is the risk for the technician (the tuner) working here, as unwanted friction can occur between 'the string' and 'the edge of the neighboring pin' during pin manipulation. As a result, the additional friction that occurs here can lead to excessive stress on the metal from which the string is made. Its crystalline lattice may gradually cease to function within the limits of elastic deformation. It simply wears out at the point of contact with the pin's edge. If this happens, during the next string tensioning by the technician, the metal lattice will stop working under standard loads, resulting in plastic deformation and eventual breakage.

Additionally, there is a problem with stable fixation of string tension during piano tuning here. As we can see in the video, when (if) the technician increases the force to tension the upper (right-shifted) pin, they will be forced to disintegrate the position of the lower pin, that is, excessively press it. This can make it difficult for the technician to achieve the desired pitch for each pin. It should also be noted that these tuning pins have one string for two of them. It is fixed at the lower part on a pin 'the hitch pin' located directly on 'the metal frame'. Moreover, with this forced pressure on the neighboring tuning pin with the neighboring string, there will inevitably be additional wear on the wooden hole of 'the pinblock' under the pin and 'the bush'. And will partly shift of the positiong it tuning pin in 'the hole of the pinblock' too.

There is also a concern that even when the technician securely and accurately installs the tuning pin in the pinblock of these strings, they will release and partly lose standard pitch much faster than all other strings.

What to do?

Perhaps, in this particular case, it is important to be aware of these issues only and no more. Always pay close attention to the positioning of the tuning pins relative to each other to avoid a situation like in this Soviet-era "Komitas" upright piano when purchasing a piano in the future.

https://youtu.be/eHrWsm4jT_E
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