David Skolnik wrote: > John's response is, I think, unintentionally misleading. He first > suggests that Jean-Jacques's statement is correct, but then immediately > attributes to downbearing the [important?]ability of controlling "the > rate at which the vibrations move from the strings into soundboard". If > there is a point of differentiation to be made here, it seems > inordinately subtle, compared to the resulting impression conveyed that > downbearing is not an essential component in piano design and > engineering. Unless that is the meaning that is intended!? David, If a piano has no down bearing the vibrations of the strings will still find their way into the soundboard. People often have the wrong notion that down bearing helps to get the vibrations into the soundboard by the simple act of pressing the string down on the bridge, as if that force would help to make a better connection - like some sort of electrical connection. I was pointing out that down bearing is an indirect effect. Down bearing is one of many factors that control the rate at which the vibrations in the string will flow into the soundboard. It does this by altering the impedance of the soundboard in relation to the vibrating string. It is not a note by note or a string by strings effect. If many strings bear down on the soundboard the apparent stiffness of the soundboard and bridges will increase. Then a vibrating string will lose energy through the bridge into the soundboard at a somewhat slower rate. More of the energy will bounce off the bridge back into the string. So I stand by my statement that down bearing is not necessary in order have the vibrations in the string transfer into the soundboard. And Jean-Jacques is right in saying that "the mere "grip" that the string has on the bridge being sufficient to assure this transfer." That grip provided by the side bearing of the strings through the staggered bridge pins. John Hartman RPT John Hartman Pianos [link redacted at request of site owner - Jul 25, 2015] Rebuilding Steinway and Mason & Hamlin Grand Pianos Since 1979 Piano Technicians Journal Journal Illustrator/Contributing Editor [link redacted at request of site owner - Jul 25, 2015]
This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC