Bass String Length Equality

Farrell mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com
Mon, 19 May 2003 09:42:37 -0400


My understanding is that many pianos that have agraffes in the bass and an un-notched (single continuous bevel) bridge in the bass bicord area can be improved when rewhatevering by properly notching the bridge such that the bicords of each note have equal lengths.

I am redoing an upright. I have notched the new bass bridge in the bicord area. However, the pinned-cast-iron upper termination is in a horizontal line, whereas the strings are at a fair angle - hence, the left string of each bicord is a few millimeters longer than the right string. I should think it fair to assume then that redoing this upper termination to produce equal string lengths would be of some benefit. 

My question is: would the benefit/difference be audible - would it make for a better piano to the discriminating ear?

I should think the difference would be much the same as on a grand that has agraffes in the bass and the bicord area of the bass bridge is at a fair angle to the strings and is upgraded from a continuous single bevel to proper notching. Does this upgrade on the small grand result in an audible improvement?

Terry Farrell

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