Piano String Replacement

There are about 230 strings in the average piano. According to most piano manufacturers and restoration experts, the usable life of a piano string is about 40 years, far longer than the lifespan on most other stringed instruments. As piano strings age, they can lose sustain and brightness of tone, and are at higher risk of breakage. Should a string break in your piano, Brad Fant Piano Service offers a string replacement service to restore functionality to the impacted note.

String Identification

There are two types of strings in a piano. Wound strings (also called bass strings) are present in the lower notes of the piano and have a steel “core” wire surrounded by copper winding for added mass. Plain wire strings, present in the middle and upper notes of the piano, are plain steel wire.

Wound strings and plain wire strings in a grand piano

Each note in the piano has between one and three strings. The lowest notes in the piano have one string (monochord), followed by two strings per note (bichord), typically in the upper bass and low tenor sections, and three strings per note (trichord) throughout the remainder of the piano.

Monochords, bichords, and trichords in a grand piano

Why Piano Strings Break

String breakage usually occurs when the piano is being played or tuned, but is not the fault of the pianist or tuner. Piano strings can break for a multitude of reasons, the most common of which include the following:

Wire fatigue/age
Rust or corrosion on strings, which is exacerbated by humidity exposure
Worn hammers (see here)

Poor action regulation (see here)
Poor stringing scale design by manufacturer
Poor quality of materials

String Replacement

String replacement involves identifying the affected strings, obtaining appropriate replacement strings, and then installing the new strings. Should breakage occur on a wound string that is a member of a bichord or trichord group, it is protocol to replace all strings in the note to ensure a good auditory match. In order to accurately duplicate wound strings, it may be necessary for Brad Fant Piano Service to obtain measurements from the piano. If an extra trip is required for this purpose, the minimum fee shall apply.†

Wound Strings

Wound strings are custom-made to the specifications of each piano model and must be special ordered.

Plain Wire Strings

Plain wire strings are universal to each piano. Brad Fant Piano Service always has plain wire strings in stock and ready to be installed.

String Installation Labor

The amount of work involved in string installation varies depending on the size of piano and location of strings to be replaced. Generally, most grand and upright pianos require about 45 minutes per string, while spinet pianos require about 1 hour per string.

New String Care

New strings will continue to stretch after installation and will require several re-tunes to stabilize. It typically takes 3-5 tunings for the new strings to stabilize. While subsequent visits to re-tune new strings are not included in the cost of installation, complimentary re-tuning of replacement strings is offered if arranged during an already scheduled visit nearby. For special visits to re-tune replacement strings, the minimum fee shall apply.†

†The minimum fee for a service appointment is $180, not including any parts or materials.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sometimes. The difference in timbre and sustain of new strings is typically most noticeable in wound strings, particularly if the original, neighboring strings are over 40 years old or show signs of rust/corrosion. While some variability is inevitable for any replacement string, voicing (see here) of the hammer(s) corresponding to new strings can help reduce these differences, and is included as part of the string installation service. For inquiries related to voicing the entire piano, please contact Brad Fant Piano Service.

As a piano ages, complete restringing of the entire piano may be necessary in order for it to perform reliably and sound its best. Given the expense involved in restringing an entire piano, this service is most often performed in the context of a piano’s complete restoration. While this route may be justifiable for premium grand pianos, it is not a viable option for all pianos. Contact Brad Fant Piano Service for inquiries related to complete restringing or rebuilding/restoration.