Hi Ed, Is the block dowelled and glued to the stretcher? If not that should give you the required stability. Roger At 09:19 PM 3/24/02 -0600, you wrote: >Dear List- > I'm replacing the pinblock in a 1970's Zuckermann "Stein" Fortepiano. >In the 1980's the string scale tension was increased at the direction of >David Way, owner of Zuckermann Harpsichords. The pinblock began to warp and >the instrument is now unplayable. > First, I'm curious if anyone else has run into this, since this is a >rather common instrument. The owner has a xeroxed scale from Way, which >makes me wonder if he had decided to rescale this model at a higher tension, >and how many other instruments have warped pinblocks. I also wonder if the >same problem has occured with the lower tension original scale. The >original had .016" wire on the highest notes; the rescale had .018" wire on >the highest notes. > Second, I'm wondering what material to use in the new pinblock. It is >supported at the ends only, no gap spacers. The original appears to be >solid beech. Wouldn't Delignit or Falconwood be a stiffer material? >Bolduc's 5 ply pinblock would be delightful to work with, but I fear it >wouldn't be stiff enough. Or I could just use solid beech and hope it lasts >a few decades. > I haven't decided whether to return to the original scale. That is my >inclination, but the owner states the instrument sounded better with the new >scale. > I thank you in advance for your suggestions. > Ed Sutton > Roger Jolly Balwin Yamaha Piano Centres. Saskatoon/Regina. Canada.
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