baldwind bridge separation

[Alan Barnard]

This phenomenon is fairly common, unfortunately, on the hamilton studios--at least I've seen several. The tip-off is when you play notes and it sounds like a drummer hitting his hollow wood blocks!

I don't know about doing this to a newer piano, but  what I've done is take the tension down on every other unison in the affected area, drilled and countersunk screw leads through the cap and into the bridge, worked glue into between bridge and cap, put in some sturdy screws, i.e., screws from junked pianos not the crap they sell nowadays, and torqued the sucker down.

I don't know what effect the additional bridge mass has because it just sounds so much better without the woody "bonk" and with the energy now being transferred, sustain and power are, of course, dramatically improved. I tune up the piano, leave the screws in place, and go on about my merry way.

Alan Barnard
Salem, Missouri


----- Original Message ----- 
From: Farrell 
To: Pianotech List
Sent: 05/23/2006 5:52:17 PM 
Subject: Re: baldwind bridge separation


I thought Baldwin was using vertically laminated bridges with no bridge cap. Or is that only on their grands?

If it is the cap pulling off, I should think that such a new piano is worth removing the necessary strings and gluing the cap back down (epoxy might be best). Likely will have to remove bridge pins also. Also, keep in mind that if a couple inches of cap is visibly pulling away from the root, I wonder how well the rest of the cap is attached (may want to remove entire cap and reglue/rebond). What is downbearing like in that area? Seems to me that even if the cap were not glued well, it would tend to be pushed into the root by downbearing pressure. I'd recommend taking a very close look to see what is going on.

Terry Farrell
----- Original Message ----- 
I went to look at a ca: 2000 Baldwin console , black high polish, today for a dealer. The treble bridge cap was pulling away at keys 48-59, resulting in a very plunky tone. I'm told that Gibson/Baldwin no longer backs the warranty on instruments sold before the takeover. Is this true, and also ,is this the kiss of death for this piano? Can a permanant repair be made?
Thanks,
Rick Ucci/Ucci Piano
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