Dead spot

[Farrell]

This may be such a basic question, but I have not heard it answered before.
Regarding timing sustain, are we doing this in a very quiet room and timing
until no trace of sound is heard - it seems to me the cut-off time might
tend to be a bit arbitrary. What general guidelines do you follow?

Terry Farrell

----- Original Message -----
From: "Newton Hunt" <nhunt@optonline.net>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Tuesday, January 01, 2002 10:22 PM
Subject: Re: Dead spot


> You are likely experiencing the problem that most pianos have, the
> dreaded "killer octave".  The problem, according to those who know how
> to fix it, boils down to the soundboard/rib/bridge assembly at that
> point is not stiff enough.  The crack has absolutely not effect at all
> unless the ribs are unglued there.
>
> The best test is to strike A5, hard, and time it's sustain.  anything
> less than 12 seconds is a bead board, anything over 15 seconds is a very
> lively board.
>
> You can pluck the strings, hard with a pick or similar tool and listen
> to the tone.  If the tone is exactly the same the hammers produce then
> there is nothing that can be done short of replacing the soundboard with
> one a little better designed.  If the tone _does_ change while plucking
> the strings then there are things that can be done to improve the tone.
>
> The idea is that if it is not there you ain't gonna get it.
>
> Happy New Year.
>
> Newton