sustain timing questions

[Clair Dunn]

In my not so distant past I rebuilt, moved, repaired, and tuned pianos. Up here in rural Vermont many of my customers' pianos were old uprights. Everything else being fairly okay, bass strings were often problematical because of the heavy windings with decades of accumulated dust. Or just plain not such great strings in the first place.

My check was to hold down the F2, G2, and A2 keys, one by one and time their sustain with the second hand of my watch. For me, the cut-off point was 7 seconds. Below that the bass strings were questionable; above that okay. (And, FWIW, a lot of those old fellers clocked in 9 and above!)

Anyway, without sustain pedals (duh) and without an amp, i.e., barefoot -- is there any ball park used for strings on a steel? (Or, maybe an amp is necessary?) And, can such a test give indications not only about string health, but the quality of the instrument?

As most of you regulars know, I'm a newbie with this instrument, and am trying to learn all I can about it.

If my test suggestion is off base, does anyone have any recipes?

Just curious about this--piano and lap steel both being stringed instruments.

Thanks.

[Erv Niehaus]

I think a rule of thumb is: the longer the string, the longer the sustain.
A Fender Stringmaster with a 26" scale will sustain longer than one with a 24 1/2" or 22 1/2" scale.

[Alexa Gomez]

Hello Clair,

One way to increase sustain and make it more uniform string to string, is to add a compressor. Simple stomp boxes only have a couple knobs. The more complex models have knobs for attack, delay, sustain, release, or ADSR. The rack mount versions often include soft or hard knee compresson, too. You can get an inexpensve Rogue or Behringer model to experiment.

Hope this helps.

[Gene Warner]

I believe that a lot of the more skilled players are able to use their volume pedals to extend the length of the notes, by raising the volume at the same rate the note is decaying. I think that those players don't keep the volume pedal all the way up while playing normally, just maybe half way. Then when that extra long sustain is desired, they can by raising the volume, hold onto it a little longer.
Gene Warner
repairman