>You do realize, Ron, that you're getting me deeper in this project than I >intended to go. I was very enthusiastic about your suggestions and I like >them, but now I find that if I raise the plate about 1/8 inch to keep the >wire close to the bottom, I won't have any down bearing in the bass. Sure I >could recap the bass bridge to bring it up about a quarter inch, or grind a >quarter inch off the plate. (plenty of cast iron there). > >So, I think I will just do the best I can with what I've got to work with. >Can't make a career out of every piano I work on. As do we all, Carl. The first rule of hang gliding is to never fly higher than you're willing to fall. There are plenty of places I won't go too, so I certainly understand. Did I forget to mention that this stuff isn't a take it out of the box and stick it in the piano in passing sort of thing? It does take time and work. >There are improvements I can make with these front and rear duplexes without >getting too carried away with extra work. There sure are, and I'd still recommend getting those low tenor back scale lengths longer if you can. >BTW, would you care to comment on the use of stringing braid. Does it serve >as a detuner of sorts? What would be the effect of gluing felt over the >half round brass counter bar? >On front and or rear? > >Thanks, again!Carl Meyer Assoc. PTG I use string braid like I would a topical analgesic - as irritant balm. I leave it out until the piano is strung and up to pitch and braid what I don't like the sound of. Yes, that means I often braid the tenor through the bass strings because some pianos make wonderfully horrible noises with open low tenor back scales. I don't understand why you would want felt on the counter bearing bar. That's done when the rear bearing bar is rough cast into the plate, but the brass half round provides a decent enough termination to not need muffled. In the front, I haven't needed felt at all with the shortened duplexes. Some folks have reported noises coming from the segment between the tuning pin and counter bearing, but I haven't had a problem with it - yet. If I do, I'll muffle it with felt, but not until it proves to need it. Ron N
This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC