[CAUT] Binder Clips

[Horace Greeley]

Hi,

At 10:27 AM 12/1/2010, Don wrote:
>Gerry,
>
>I foresee a branched discussion on this topic, so just in case I 
>changed the subject.
>
>Yes, binder clips change the tone, but I don't think it is related 
>to how it might mimic friction.  They add mass, increasing the touch 
>weight and also affecting the hammer contact time.  The part of the 
>shank where you clip them  also flexes, contributing to the knock 
>noise we hear when a note is played, so it can't help but affect the 
>tone quality to have a metal clip fastened there.
>
>Lots of things change the tone!  But shank flanges that are too 
>loose will still sound bad (or maybe even worse) if binder clips are in place.

When clips are in use, this latter is especially apparent in either 
studio or live situations in which the piano is too closely mic'd 
and/or the result is not EQ'd very well.  The result is a distortion 
of sound distinct from that normally heard as a capo buzz...more 
closely akin to a hammer that is not fit to the strings very well 
and/or strings that aren't level.

Best.

Horace



>
>Don Mannino
>
>
>From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf 
>Of G Cousins
>Sent: Wednesday, December 01, 2010 9:10 AM
>To: CAUT
>Subject: Re: [CAUT] F..riction
>
>Don,
>Wouldn't the comment also be supported with the practice of putting 
>binder clips on the shanks?
>I don't remember exactly whom was the purveyor of this idea but it 
>was discussed in Vegas.
>Never tried it but the concept was to add weight to the shanks using 
>small binder clips. It wouldn't add friction per-se but I think 
>theorotically the added weight would mimic added friction. It was 
>reported that this definately changed tonality of an instrument.
>Anyone else experiment in this procedure and have substantative 
>findings?  (pro or con)
>
>Gerry
>