repair bridge

[Jim Coleman, Sr.]

Hi Chunping:

You must be a violin player. Violin bridges are never glued, but piano
bridges must always be glued to the soungboard.

Jim Coleman, Sr.

On Mon, 24 May 1999, Chunping Ding wrote:

> Dear Dave,
> 
> Thank you very much for your kind advice. I eventually removed the bridge and
> its apron from the soundboard. I found some old bridge from  another piano, and
> put it back to my piano. However, the volume of the sound is very small. I
> guess the reasons for this may be:
> 
> 1. I did not use glue between the bridge and the sourdboard. (Because I am no
> so sure about the positions of the bridge and the pins etc. I would like to
> play with the new bridge). However, I do not understand why do we need to put
> glue between the bridge and the sound board? I think that the pressure from the
> strings are strong enough to stick the bridge on the board.
> 
> 2. The contact between the bridge and the sound board are not smooth. When I
> take the bridge off the soundboard. The soundboard are slightly damaged. I hope
> after I apply glue between the soundboard and the bridge, the sound will be
> better.
> 
> 3. Using the new bridge, the speaking lengths of the strings are smaller.
> 
> The heights of the new bridge is the same as the old one.
> 
> Hopefully, after I apply glue, the sound volume will be increased.
> 
> Any advice,
> 
> THank you again,
> 
> Chunping
> 
> 
> DGPEAKE@AOL.COM wrote:
> 
> > In a message dated 5/21/99 6:02:07 AM Pacific Daylight Time, cding@att.com
> > writes:
> >
> > << Hi, everybody.
> >
> >  I am new in piano technician team. My first major task is to repair a
> >  seriously cracked base bridge of my upright piano. One fourth of the
> >  pins are loose. I would like to re-cap the bridge. Firstly, I would like
> >  to take the bridge off the sound board. I tried to put vinegar between
> >  the bridge and the bridge apron (shelf). However, I failed to dissolve
> >  the glue. Does anyone know any more powerful dissolvent? Or do I have to
> >  use some special vinegar (I used my cooking vinegar)? Or is there any
> >  hidden screw between the bridge and the apron? Then I tried to dissolve
> >  the glue between the apron and the sound board. I failed again. Could
> >  someone give me some hints on how to take the bridge off?
> >
> >  Your help is highly appreciated.
> >
> >  Chunping
> >
> >
> > Chances are it was put on with animal hide glue.  Mix 1 part wallpaper
> > remover to 1 part H2O and apply on the glue joints.  You may want to apply
> > some heat from a heat gun to help soften the glue.  Make sure all of the
> > screws are removed.  Sometimes part of the soundboard may come with the
> > bridge, but that is not a hard repair, if you do not remove the part off of
> > the bridge.  Another alternative is to apply epoxy in the cracks rather than
> > recap. Email me privately and I will tell you how to do it.
> >
> > Dave Peake, RPT
> > Portland Chapter
> > Oregon City, OR
> 
> 
> 
>