In a message dated 2/20/04 5:56:09 PM Eastern Standard Time, collin.s@skynet.be writes: << Problems arise in the 3 last octaves of most pianos I see, and there any reading (even string length) is subject to caution. Help ! >> Stéphane....The problem in these octaves is more typically soundboard/impedance problems and no amount of accurate downbearing magic will cure it. :-( <> Difinitely not "irrelevant" but it is not alchemy or sorcerers work either. What you are shooting at in adjusting for down bearing is a moving target not a static one. There is a range where any downbearing within that range, for one particular piano, will produce excellent tone...That is the range to shoot for and inaccuracies of small magnitudes are not going to effect the overall result. Downbearing forces change with changes in temperature, humidity, tuning pitch, whether any strings are broken, etc........ So we are shooting at a moving target and no one is going to be able to give you the magic formula for "exact" downbearing force or downbearing angle which will work on all pianos and most times won't work optimally on pianos, of the same model, which come off the production line one after the other. << But I would like to change my views also, and know exactly how much downbearing I should put on my next rebuild job, and how I could accurately (enough) measure it.>> Great!!! When you get it worked out, patent it, and I will market it for you!! :-) Until then, measuring each piano shaped thingee, and then making a SWAG, will get you in the ballpark.......... cause you won't forget your mistakes quickly! :-). Jim Bryant (FL)
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