Horn troubles...or not?

[Ron Torrella]

You bet! Plates have an astonishing amount of flexibility. Ever bounce on
a D plate or a B plate? the shorter pianos don't have quite as much flex
in them, but there's still flex. If you didn't see space between horn and
bolt when the piano was "at tension," turning the bolt out and then
restringing the piano might not be a good idea....OTOH, doing so might
inhibit the plate from bowing up in the center when it's at full tension.
Not sure that would be a bad thing to do.

When in doubt, I'd probably leave things as they are. Better safe than
sorry.

Ron Torrella, RPT
Piano Technician
University of Michigan		   "Dese are de conditions dat prevail."
School of Music						--Jimmy Durante
734/764-6207 (office/shop)
734/763-5097 (fax)
734/572-7663 (home)

On Mon, 24 May 1999 MHoffman11@aol.com wrote:

> I thought I looked at it closely.  I swear the bolt was touching the horn 
> before I dropped the tension for restringing.  Now there is a gap of about 
> 3/16.  I searched in vain for a wedge that I'm sure wasn't there in the first 
> place!  This is an Adam Schaaf grand (made 1919).  Tuning stability was good 
> before tension was dropped.
> 
> Anyway, that gap is bothering me.  I'd feel a whole lot better if there had 
> been a wedge that had fallen out.
> 
> I can turn out the bolt to meet the horn, but should I?  Visions of cracked 
> plate abound in brain.  On the other hand, does the plate flex THAT much?  
> Would turning that bolt out CAUSE the plate to break under tension?
> 
> Send help if you can.
> 
> Best Wishes,
> Mike Hoffman
>