Bridle Straps/time

[Tom Sivak]

Yes, it took me exactly 45 minutes.  I can't always do it that fast, but this one went really quickly.  The old bridle straps just crumbled off and I made a pile of them on the keys, which I picked up when I was done.  I don't use glue with the corks, but maybe next time I will, based on all the discussion I've read about this.  I have to say I can't recall ever having a cork come loose, even without the glue, but since it's happened to so many of you all, maybe I've just been lucky.  
   
  What the 45 minutes DIDN'T include was taking off the music desk and key cover, etc., nor putting them back on when I was done.  So maybe the entire job took an hour.
   
  Here's a tip that will help you increase your speed: buy the felt tipped bridle straps rather than the fabrilite ones.  They are a little more expensive but so much more flexible and easy to fit into the wire loop than the fabrilite.  
   
  Now, a 20 minute pitch raise doesn't seem that fast to me.  I do use a VT 100 for pitch raises, but let's not waste any time here.  Five seconds per tuning pin seems more than enough!  I get pretty darn close but I'm not obsessed with getting it perfect.  I figure if this one's off on the sharp side, and the next one is flat, then I'm jake with that.  20 minutes is routine for me.  

  No exaggeration necessary.
   
  Tom Sivak
  Chicago
   
   
  

Steve Blasyak <atuneforyou at earthlink.net> wrote:
        Hey Now,
   
  I would like to add a few comments on the recent thread about bridle straps.
   
  First Matthew bravely admits it took him 6 hours for his first bridle strap replacement job. He confesses to some frustration and asks for advice. I remember the first time I tried the same procedure on and old upright. I can't remember how long it took me but I'm quite sure it took me more than 1.5 hours. Much of the advice was very informative and included both method and type of bridle straps that work the best. That's what I like the best about the list and the PTG in general. The idea that we all help each other.
   
  Now for my pet peeve...time. Tom Sivak describes his methods and claims to have finished the procedure in 45 minutes.
   
  Question? Does this include the removal of the old straps? 
   
  I did a little math, 88 notes divided by 45 minutes and came up with 30 seconds per note. Wow that's moving right along. If first you remove the old straps, then clean up a bit, (those old straps crumble and fall all over the action).  You then replace the straps with cork type you may or may not use a spot of glue. Don't forget you must determine the right size of cork to use. Then after inserting all 88 corks you must go back and slide the strap onto the bridle wire. By the way I will add my little bit of advise. I use a drop of protek on the wire and they slide on much easier. Usually you are working with and old upright and the tends to be corrosion on the wire.
   
  I'm sorry Tom I'm not trying to pick on you personalty so I ask in reality is this the case? Are you stating that you can complete the job from start to finish in 45 minutes? 
   
  This is just the latest thread among the many that I sometimes read with amazement. Recent threads that include a tuning and cleaning in 1.25 hours, removing keys cleaning/ lubrication of key pins as part of a regular service visit. Then there was the one about the damper lever leads coming loose on a Steinway. I don't know about anyone else but by the time I remove the fall board, action, remove one damper under lever swedge  the lead and put it back in that's thirty minutes in my book.  Someone on the list once claimed to do both the keys and dampers in less than an hour. My favorite is the 20 minute pitch raise. If you do the math depending on the way the piano is scaled it comes out to less than 5 seconds per tuning pin. My fastest pitch raise is about 25 minutes and my usual time is about 30 minutes. But I will admit I have a different philosophy than some when it comes to pitch raises. With the help of my handy cyber tuner in most cases I have ! confidence that the
 piano will be at or very close to pitch when I'm done.
   
  These are the confessions and observations of an old (in years but not experience) wanna be piano tech. I don't see so good and I don't move that fast so my hats off to the rest of ya.
   
  Steve
  Pura Vida    
   
   
  Steve Blasyak
  atuneforyou at earthlink.net
  EarthLink Revolves Around You.
   
  

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