[pianotech] Increasing bridge height

[Ron Nossaman]

Will Truitt wrote:
> The bridge height at note 88 is about 25.5 mm, about 28
> around note 70, 30 at note 40, and 33 just below note 21 (it's a 20 note
> bass piano). Del's practice is to take 88 up to at least 30 mm.

Mine too, and since the string height is likely 5mm lower in 
the upper treble anyway, that works out fine.


> There are some things associated with making the change of the plate
> elevation that must accompany the taller bridge that I want to have a better
> sense of.  One, the higher string plane will likely necessitate the use of
> new damper wire, as the old may be too short, yes?  

Maybe, but most likely not.


> The other concern that I have is the need for a longer hammer bore that must
> accompany the change to the string plane height. Not the boring or
> calculating of the measure - I've been doing that for over 20 years - but
> rather the low entrance into the action cavity that Steinways have at the
> bottom of the stretcher.  As you know, there is often scant clearance for
> the hammer drop screws, which leaves little room to raise the action stack
> if that becomes part of the overall equation.  

Look at that before you decide. I typically find that the 
stack is level and with the high treble string height closer 
to that in the tenor, boring all the tenor and treble hammers 
the same length makes it a lot closer to right than it was 
originally. No stretcher clearance issues. But check all that 
first before committing.

Ron N