My business is about 50% non-player pianos and 50% players.  There
is a _lot_ more business rebuilding non-player grands.  I have restored
many: Steinway, Mason & Hamlin, Knabe, etc.  I will choose what bass
strings and hammers I use based upon the instrument make and model.

I restored a small Bluthner and my choices were all German.  I used
Roslau steel strings, GC (German Copper) bass strings and Renner
hammers.  I restored a 5'1" Knabe.  My choices for this instrument
were Abel "Light" hammers and Mapes bass strings.

I acquired a 6' tiger oak Wisner grand that had no strings in it.
I used Arledge, also in Tennessee.  Arledge promotes a "rescaling"
service.  They have a computer program that they say can ideally scale
any piano.  Rescaling has become more of a science these days.  I'm
happy with the results I got in all these instances.  Other techs in
Europe I spoke to seem to love a company in the Netherlands.

I noticed the German wire seems more brilliant sounding and can be
"deeper" sounding to me, not always "richer" sounding.

Bill Maguire