[CAUT] soundboard possible OT for list

[Donald McKechnie]

Fred,

In the version of this I heard a piece of cloth, felt or leather was  
added to the top of the spring to prevent digging/indenting the bottom  
of the soundboard. Thoughts?

Don

Donald McKechnie
Piano Technician
Ithaca College
dmckech at ithaca.edu
607.274.3908

> From: Fred Sturm <fssturm at unm.edu>
> Date: September 28, 2009 4:41:40 PM EDT
> To: caut at ptg.org
> Subject: Re: [CAUT] soundboard possible OT for list
> Reply-To: caut at ptg.org
>
>
> On Sep 28, 2009, at 2:08 PM, G Cousins wrote:
>
>> List,
>> I have an issue with a Harpsichord soundboard.(20 yrs old, not a  
>> kit) 4' rank bridge is rolling due to board warping and waving.  
>> Strings are now buzing from contact with board. I'm thinking  
>> perhaps riblets or something around that line.
>> This is likely off of typical CAUT concerns or threads so if anyone  
>> wants to discuss some ideas on this topic contact me off list for  
>> more details.
>> Thanks,
>> Gerry Cousins, RPT
>> West Chester University of PA
>> cousins_gerry at msn.com
>> gcousins at wcupa.edu
>>
> 	Typically the 8 foot bridge has gone down, and the hitchpin rail  
> has gone up. The cure I have used, maybe 3 or 4 times (always  
> successfully so far), is one I learned from Hubbard (though I  
> modified their instructions quite a bit), called at the time a  
> "happiness bar." It is one or two dowels (one in the middle, or  
> perhaps two at 1/3 distances) inserted from beneath, with a fairly  
> strong spring on top, a coil spring about the diameter of the dowel  
> or a little less. Drill a hole in the top of the dowel and insert a  
> smaller diameter dowel in the hole. The smaller dowel is about the  
> inside diameter of the spring, and holds it in place. The spring  
> will need to hit the soundboard directly under the 8 foot bridge.  
> The bottom of the dowel rests on the bottom of the case.
> 	It's actually quite easy to do. Drill a hole (or two) in  
> appropriate places through the bottom (use a square to measure the  
> right distances in so that you will be under the bridge). The hole  
> should be a bit larger than the dowel, and large enough to insert a  
> finger or two comfortably. Measure the distance up to the bridge,  
> cut the dowel to be somewhat shorter. Have maybe three strengths of  
> spring available. Place the spring on the top of the dowel, held in  
> place as described above, insert in the hole. The spring should  
> contact the soundboard under the bridge, at which point you press  
> upward with one finger and manipulate the bottom of the spring so it  
> slides over and rests on the harpsichord bottom next to the hole.  
> And maybe decide that a different spring strength or length is  
> needed, so remove and adjust as needed. The hole needs to be large  
> enough that a finger can get in and pull the dowel back over to the  
> hole for removal.
> 	I attach some photos from I class I taught that should help.



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