Repairs
Broken String
Strings almost never break on newer or recently restrung pianos because new piano wire is extremely elastic.
On
older pianos, if the strings have become brittle with age, they are more
likely to break - even if the change is tension is very slight. However,
I have very rarely had a string break while tuning a piano, even when doing
an extreme pitch raise. Of course, because of my training, I am able to
replace or repair a broken string whether it happened "on
my watch" or not. (The photo at left is my toolbox for string repair,
and includes spools of wire in various gauges.)
In the case of a broken bass string, which is a "wound string" (core wire with other wire wrapped around it), if the broken string is still available, it is often best to splice the old string back into place if possible. If a bass string is missing, a new one can be ordered. However, each bass string on each make and model of piano is different. Ideally, the broken string is available to send in to be duplicated. If it is not available, I take measurements to send to the duplicating service.
If more than a few strings are broken in a piano upon my arrival, it is usually an indication that the strings are extremely brittle. This is the only time I would avoid a pitch raise. If the situation is really extreme, the only solution may be to restring the piano, an expensive proposition, and usually not worth it on vertical pianos.