Yes... and as soon as the any part of the bridge surface, in particular the leading edge, lies under the strings deflection line (determined by the downbearing angle and the highest point on the bridge) then the string will no longer be able to maintain solid contact with the bridge for more then a very short period of time... exactly the opposite effect of the stated goal of string seating to begin with. My last little experiment with bridge pins would indicate that they are able to maintain the strings position (horizontal orientation) on the bridge pins to a greater degree then some, if not many, might imagine. They would especially be able to do on the grand piano this with strings in an unseated condition (regardless of cause) because the primary and by far greatest pulse is essentially an upwards force. I would suspect on a vertical the opposite would be true. That said... the window for the strings stable horizontal position on the string is small, and a negative bearing condition for the leading edge of bridges string path is under no circumstances a desirable. Cheers RicB Gregor, Quite simply the disadvantage to "seating strings" is that when one presses too hard on the strings, one creates deeper and deeper string groves/indentations in the bridge surface. William R. Monroe
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