Warped spring rail Tom Driscoll -----Original Message----- From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of tune4u@earthlink.net Sent: Thursday, February 27, 2003 1:07 PM To: Pianotech@Ptg.Org Subject: Today's Puzzlers Clues are in the description... The Piano: 70's era Hamilton studio, worn out in use in a military base chapel, now in a small practice room like the universities use. Strings slightly rusty and very tired, very "noisy." Hammers are clearly the originals but are not deeply grooved and still have an acceptable shape. I have done partial regulation (so I could tune it) and recently installed an old-style Dampp-chaser (one amber light, red funnel) they had stored in a closet for years. Long diagonal crack in soundboard from the bottom, in the middle of the bass bridge area, up and under the treble bridge. Problem: Weird sounding notes. The first three notes above the treble break (hint, clue) sound like someone is striking a drummer's wood block trap at the same instant the hammer hits the key. I used my pocket pc to record the sound as I played from D#5 up to A#5 up and down then isolated on the worst notes, especially G. Listen to "Ugh #1." Hope you can hear it, it's not high fidelity. Puzzle: Why do these notes sound so thunky and woody? (Teaser: It's NOT the obvious cause, at least not entirely ...) The second recording "Ugh #2" is a note about a 1/2 an octave below the break (don't recall which one) struck hard twice then soft three times. Notice the obnoxious noise when first struck with a hard blow. Puzzle: Cause? (Teaser: It's NOT what it sounds exactly like ...) Ugh #3 is an unusual and loud noise to identify. It obviously is NOT from the piano itself, but was present during the tuning. (Teaser: Thanks Army Corps of Engineers...) Puzzle: What the heck is that? It sounds like a diesel locomotive. (Teaser: It's NOT a diesel locomotive ...) Alan Barnard Sendin' Out Stumpers from Salem, MO _______________________________________________ pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives
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