Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Piano Tuner-Technicians Forum Questions about grand piano string cover

A pure wool string cover is essential, in conjunction with at least the drying section of a damppchaser switched unit for protection against rust. Particularly in coastal areas and any areas close to large bodies of water.

Do string covers lay on top of the strings, or are they suspended above them with the hooks or fasteners used to secure them?

I would think that you would not want something in direct contact with the strings, as it would affect their sound.

Dan

Dan,

So....yes, they don't touch the strings! Modern string covers, like the Edwards String Cover, have rigid supports velcroed to the bottom of the cover. These keep the cover above the plate and only let the cover drop down the edges of the soundboard and over the pinblock.

The supports (called 'battens') can be removed so the cover can be dry-cleaned or vacuumed, and then pop back on at the velcro-strips underneath.

edwardsstringcovers.com is my preference. This gentleman (and his wife)started producing string covers quite a while ago...and has many imitators. I prefer going to the source. Many colors, custom embroidery of makes, models, or owner's name. Etc, etc....!

I don't work for them,
but I do sell a few each year,
Just to be honest!

Heh. Had I looked at my own piano before asking this I would have figured it out - sorry!

It didn't occur to me that the cover would sit on the ribs of the plate.

I looked at their web site but saw nothing about pricing. Since they are more or less custom fit, I have to assume you need to get a quote in advance to determine the cost?

Thank you,

Dan

it is probably not too expensive.

I am too far to have them ordered so I think the best solution here is to use a good quality thin felt (1 mm) pure wool. I simply did not think about our piano cloth and have been looking for a wool cloth not too expensive.
That said, good quality piano felt is not very cheap.

the few supports that keep the cover above the plate are not difficult to produce. Nothing difficult but indeed I would buy them ready made if I where nearer.

I dont have pianos absolutely in need of those in my region, but I have seen the result on a piano that had 30 years with that cover. everything look like new .

Customer often are reluctant because they want to see the plate and strings, but I try hard to convince them ..( plus it is easy to roll thd cover and put it away if wanted)

totally agree . then the partial DC (with hygrostat) is cheaper than the full system.

this is mostly as you say for places with high humidity weather . but the protection againdt dust can be appreciated too.

Edwards' battens are made of spruce wood from Canada.



About between $350-$600 depending on piano size.

My Edwards 6'1" string cover was $350 delivered.
Took about 6 weeks, made to order.

I think the biggest negative about string covers is their appearance. If they were invisible I'd get one.

Silly way ,many people are thinking that way,as if they need to see the inside of the piano when it is closed,or the tuning pins to play better.
Your piano is intended to be open only for playing or concerts. Then you close it and protect it keyboard closed strings and soundboard.

Violonist put their instrument in a box so you are lucky.

Vertical pianos are more enclosed.

To keep a grand piano in condition for decades cover it when not used. Simple and regularely prooved with old pianos on sale

Seem like an old fashioned mood but sont be too confident in progress and modern material (lacquers) they are certainly good but unless you provide museum conditions some protection is better.
Regards

She just sounds better without a bonnet

(Always wear a helmet.)

Sure, then for competition, you call the technician before so the piano is tuned, and you take out the protection before the show !

The cloth may more lower the strenght of a few hich pitched partials in the head of the pianist than in real..

It's only silly if one is not interested in the aesthetics of the pianos's appearance. Many people play with the lid down and hinge folded back or with the lid raised. And I'd guess many think the plate and strings visible under those circumstances are far more beautiful than if they're covered with a string cover. I'd guess this is the primary reason those with expensive pianos don't get string covers.

I don't think anyone thinks they have to see the insides of a piano when it's closed or the tuning pins to play better.

Oh, really? I'd love to see the survey confirming this.

Why would you think I based my statement on a survey? Quite silly.

What makes you think that owners with expensive pianos don't purchase string covers? In other words, prove it!

Silly again. Why would I have to prove anything? I just gave an opinion and clearly stated it as such. This isn't a court case. And besides, I didn't even say that those with expensive pianos don't get string covers. I said that the main reason they don't get string covers was appearance.