[pianotech] Changing or upsizing bridge pins

[Ron Overs]

Adreas,

Loose bridge pins can certainly lead to tonal 
problems. Try a small drop of CA glue at the base 
of the offending bridge pins. Sparingly wick it 
in to the side of the pin opposite to the string, 
to reduce the likelihood of getting a CA film 
between the string and the bridge. I've found it 
works well if the holes aren't too bell-mouthed.

Some S&S boards seem to suffer from insufficient 
mass in the killer octave region, even if the 
board seems to have reasonable stiffness. Adding 
mass when necessary can also reduce the tendency 
for falseness in some instances.

All the best to Gösta and with the recording project.

Ron Overs

>I'm tuning Gösta Rundqvists Steinway O a couple 
>of times every week since he's trying to record 
>as much of his wonderful music as possible 
>before he has to leave this planet for good. 
>Leukemia will soon end his life. Google his name 
>if you want to know something about this 
>wonderful pianist and friend!
>
>
>Anyway, quite a few strings have false beats and 
>some of them lack a defined center of tone. I 
>massage the strings regularly to set the strings 
>as flat against the bridges as possible. (I'm 
>not overdoing this, not squashing the edge 
>between the bridge top and the notch, just 
>simply softly setting strings that need it.) Of 
>course this helps a lot but there are still a 
>few strings that i suspect sound bad due to some 
>of the bridge pins not being super tight. (Once 
>again, I know that the hammer shape is not 
>perfect, but I know what that sounds like. Since 
>theres not much time left he wants me to make 
>the best out of a sad situation.) Hammering the 
>pins further into the bridge helps in most cases 
>but not all. I suspect that the top part of the 
>bridge pin hole wears and widens so that the pin 
>might move or vibrate with the string. 
>Microscopically of course, but enough to cause 
>the tone to lose it's center.
>
>
>Has anyone had any experience in repinning small 
>problem sections of the bridge of a piano? Also, 
>I'm thinking about upsizing just to nearest 
>larger size and avoid filing the top of the pins 
>flat to leave the holes as tight as possible 
>around the pin. (I will not leave the piano like 
>this only during these recording sessions. I 
>will of course rebuild the piano and help his 
>future widow to get as much for his piano as 
>possible once he's gone.)
>
>
>Good morning and good night!
>
>
>Truly, Andreas Risberg
>
>
>Keep your friends updated- 
><http://www.microsoft.com/middleeast/windows/windowslive/see-it-in-action/social-network-basics.aspx?ocid=PID23461::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-xm:SI_SB_5:092010>even 
>when you're not signed in.


-- 
OVERS PIANOS - SYDNEY
    Grand Piano Manufacturers
_______________________

Web http://overspianos.com.au
mailto:ron at overspianos.com.au
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