Lowell Gauge...Communication Problem?

David Skolnik davidskolnik@optonline.net
Wed, 25 Feb 2004 23:10:50 -0500


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Ron & list -

Somehow, my attempts to be non-confrontational and unprovocative  seem to=20
have failed, rather dramatically!  I don't know.  How much of what I hear=20
in Ron's tone is my own misreading or projection?  I tried to do two=20
things, maybe three, with my last post.  I tried to be appreciative of=20
Ron's time and effort, I tried to rephrase some of my questions in response=
=20
to his comments, and I tried to eliminate those issues that seemed to=20
digress too far from the point.  Actually, four things.  I tried for a=20
little levity too, but I'm afraid I have to acknowledge that, with this=20
medium, and my writing skills, I can't get away with not using <grin> or=
 :-).

I won't ask any further technical questions.  My objective here is to=20
understand the communication glitches, and to apologize for any role I=20
might have in them.

At 07:30 AM 2/25/2004 -0600, you wrote:

>>>The pin angle combined with the string tension and offset angle forces=20
>>>the string against the bridge top. It's a clamp system.
>>
>>This is a static definition.  What I was trying to ask  about was=20
>>"dynamic" coupling, that is, the interaction of the parts (string, pin,=20
>>bridge) in motion.
>
>Which was no where evident in the question.

I'm sorry, That's why I rephrased the question.

>>>>Does the front edge of the bridge play any role in defining the string=
=20
>>>>termination?
>>>
>>>Yes. It's what the pin angle, string tension, and offset angle clamp the=
=20
>>>string TO, ideally.
>>
>>I meant, does the front edge of the bridge have any effect on the way in=
=20
>>which the various modes of string vibration evolve & decay that might be=
=20
>>measurably altered by its absence?
>
>Again, the question you asked in no way remotely indicated that, and I=20
>don't have those answers in any case.

I'm sorry, but while I acknowledge that, upon consideration, the original=20
question was overly broad, I find it a bit excessive to describe it as "in=
=20
no way remotely indicated".   I said in the intro to this series of=20
questions (which was not copied in Ron's reply) that I did not expect him=20
to be able to answer all of them, nor did I wish the burden of response to=
=20
fall entirely upon him.

>>What amount of negative force would be needed to overcome the design=20
>>parameters you have quoted..."10 degrees side, 20 degrees pin slant"?
>
>With a string at 160 pounds tension, with zero overall down bearing, 10=B0=
=20
>offset, and 20=B0 pin slant, it would take about 23 pounds to push the=20
>string up the pin. With 160 pounds tension, zero bearing, 5=B0 offset, and=
=20
>10=B0 pin slant, it would take about 10 pounds to push the string up the=
 pin.

This is useful information.

>>I recall some discussion about the bridge surface itself expanding upward=
=20
>>(apart from the soundboard's upward excursion) and, in the process,=20
>>pushing the string up the pins.
>
>I've written about this before.

Ron - At this point, why wouldn't you have elaborated a bit.  You say=20
you've written about that, but you choose not to indicate, even in brief,=20
what you said or when.  Wouldn't this have added something substantive and=
=20
possibly relevant?

>Suit yourself. I see way too much friction between the pin and string to=20
>allow the string to slither up and down the pin during play - unless=20
>something is seriously wrong. And if the string was, indeed causing a=20
>false beat by slithering up and down the string, the beat wouldn't stop=20
>when you place a screwdriver against the side of the pin opposite the=20
>string - which it typically does.

The noise I observe and associate with termination deficiency at the front=
=20
bridge pin is not the same as the false beats, which I find to occur mostly=
=20
in the upper two or three octaves.  They are different noises, with, I=20
believe, different sources.

>>>Of course. But it's because you're inducing a curve into the string to=20
>>>force it down to the crushed bridge edge by tapping, not because the=20
>>>string has climbed the pin.
>>
>>Sorry, no.  I have, with a magnifier and strong lighting, watched the=20
>>bridge-segment string set to the bridge surface from almost all the way=20
>>back to the rear pin. It can't be all about wood fiber crushing.  Of=20
>>course, as I get older, and my eyes get worse, I can reasonably suppose=20
>>that I'll be seeing less of this. That's one solution!
>
>Most likely right. I'm just blind and don't know what I'm talking about.

I believe my intended meaning was poorly served by my choice of words.  I=20
had intended my comment to relate solely to my own experience of late,=20
having more difficulty seeing than I used to.  Ron's comment seem to=20
suggest that he interpreted my remarks as being insinuatingly directed at=20
him,  If that's the case, I sincerely apologize. Not only is that not who I=
=20
am, but, frankly, such technique is beyond my rhetorical repertoire.

>> From the rebuilder's perspective, and not just Ron N, :
>
>Whatever that means.

Again, my language was ineffective in communicating my intent.  I was only=
=20
trying to encourage rebuilding-readers other than Ron's self to contribute=
=20
some comments, not that his in put was to be diminished.  Sorry again.

>>Are you striving for positive downbearing  (with positive front bearing)=
=20
>>across the scale?
>
>Yes. Aren't you? If not, why not?
>
>>If so, do you know (by measuring) how often you do or do not achieve this=
=20
>>goal?
>
>Always. Don't you? If not, why not?

As I've indicated on more than one occasion in these, and other=20
discussions, I am not doing rebuilding.  That would address the question of=
=20
why not me.   These statements by Ron are, I think, at the core of my=20
questions regarding negative downbearing over the recent months. If they=20
are representative of the approach adopted by this readership, they then=20
also represent an unfortunate indictment of much of the work (new and=20
rebuilt) that I have come across in my years in this business.

So, thanks Ron, and others who have contributed thoughts along the way.


David Skolnik RPT, DBH



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