Chipping

[Ron Nossaman]

Jon,

You can also get a decent visual indication of tension by looking at the
position of light reflection as it moves along the string as tension is
added. It won't get you to accurate pitch, but it can get you in the
ball-park for initial tensioning.

Ron

>I run a strip of masking tape along the agraffs or pressure ridge too
>but mark all the sharps with a line. That way I have my bearings from
>the 'keyboard' configuration of the marks.
>
>Also, if you had used a measuring guide (other than 4 fingers) to cut
>the wire you can be assured the becket placement will be consistent.
>( read - Becket Tool )
>So express chipping can be accomplished simply by becket placement
>to get tension on the strings. Initially pulling the beckets to 1:00 with a
>stringing hook is in one hand and the hammer in the other, zips right along.
>Space strings (ESPECIALLY the tenor section over the wide cloth 
>counter bearing), tap coils, squeeze beckets.
>Then pull to 2:00. Check pitch and chip via plucking. check coils.
>
>Once the tension is up it's time to trash the tension by squeezing the wire
>at the 
>hitch pin; removing the natural curve on the duplex, bridge pins,
>v-bar/agraffs
>and counter bearing bar. Tension may need to be re-established intermittently.
>
>Double check coils on pins.
>
>tune, tune , level strings, tune, fit hammers to strings, tune
>
>Tired yet?
>
>Regulate, install dampers, and yes, you guessed it; tune. fit hammers to
>strings,
>tune.
>
>repeat as necessary.
>
>I'm tired just writing this.
>
>Jon Page
>Harwich Port, Cape Cod, Mass. (jpage@capecod.net)
>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
 Ron