removing cross beam on a D

[Richard Brekne]

Hi Chris

Maybe this ends up along the lines of the advisability of useing a plate 
support when repinning a grand tuning block. 95 % of the time you wont 
break the plate.... but if you do.......:)

RicB

Christopher D. Purdy wrote:

> Several years ago we had a pianist that helped herself to removing this 
> bar.  I was furious and we had a huge argument about it, nearly 
> resulting in her refusing to perform.  I later contacted Steinway about 
> this and now have a letter in my files, signed by Michael Mohr, stating 
> that this should not be done.  While his unofficial position was that 
> it/ probably/ won't hurt anything, Steinway's official stand is that it 
> should not be removed.  The letter states:
> 
>  "Although removing the strut is occasionally practiced, the plate can 
> be structurally damaged if this strut is under compression which upon 
> its removal may allow for the plate structure to shift under the tension 
> of the strings".
> 
> I make it very clear in my written policy for prepared piano use that it 
> will not be removed.  No, it probably will not cause a problem but it 
> would be a very expensive repair if it did.
>