Cable Baby Grand Restoration - Removal of Bass Strings

Now that the dampers were removed (see last blog post), the bass strings can be removed from the piano.



The above picture shows the bass strings where they will be disconnected from the pins before they are removed from the piano. As you can see it appears someone once spray painted gold on them. Not sure why unless they were just doing a "quick" restoration job that did not include removing the strings. But when these strings are replaced you will not only see new shiny strings but new shiny silver pins which I will also be replacing.

Above picture: on the further end of the piano you will find the bass bridge (fortunately there is no splitting) and it looks in good enough shape to reuse.

Above: In the above picture you can see where the pin bushing around the pin is cracked. All the pin bushings will be replaced.

Above: on the above bass string which I removed, you will see my thumb is pointing to what is called a "becket" a tuner regularly uses a "becket breaker" when cutting the strings out. I used used a really good pair of side cutters and cut the string right flush with the tuning pin.

Above: In this picture I'm showing all the bass strings that have been removed and they are all grouped on a piece of brass wire. They are in order from lowest note to highest note and will be sent off to my piano supplier to be duplicated professionally.

Above: This picture shows the piano without the bass strings in it.