Hello MMD -- I would like to thank everyone for the input about
twisting bass strings.  I do know about twisting them in the direction
of the copper winding, not against it, which will tighten the copper.

I have two other reproducing pianos that I rebuilt from ground up.
One had a new bass installed in 1964.  On the second build in 1970,
I just removed, observing how many turns before relax, only one half,
then cleaned, and put them back.

The other is a Becker Welte that has the original _steel_ strings.
On rebuild, I wire brushed them with a jig I made and put them back
with a half turn.  They sound so rich and pure, I had to keep them.

I never installed a "new" set of bass strings.  I didn't know where
my tech ordered them from and no instructions came with them.  What
rattled my cage was going to the web and reading about two, three,
or more twists on strings.  I installed them all, and they sound
great.

The one I broke had a buzz I couldn't get rid of by twisting.  Now,
with the help from MMD, I know what to do!  But this is only a hobby,
not a business for me.  Guess I started a "Buzz" here.

Thanks again,
John Taber
East Hartford, Connecticut

P.S.:  I first rebuilt my Lexington back in 1955.  Does anyone
remember the poor materials available at that time?  The tubing
started to crack and break off, and the rubberized cloth got slimy
after only about two years.