[pianotech] Whistlin' Wixey

[Ron Nossaman]

William Truitt wrote:
> I would rather ask a stupid question than not ask the question that I should
> be asking because I do not understand something.  

I agree.


>Do the comparative
> deviations you describe correspond directly to the the values of .5 degree
> to 1.5 degrees so often given as the values we want to achieve in a strung
> piano?  

That's right, the total angle.


> I understand that the loading of the board is the combination of both front
> and rear bearing loads.  

It's a total load resulting from the angle difference between 
the speaking length, and the rear "duplex" segments, 
regardless of what the front and rear angles are relative to 
the bridge top.


>Still, Frank Emerson earlier gave an example on
> Baldwins with a significant mismatch between front and rear bearing where it
> would be important to know.  For me, it is useful at this early juncture in
> my bellyman career (I've only done 2 boards) to help me understand where my
> feet are, and giving me the comfort that I have not built into the mix a
> serious mismatch between front and rear.  I'll take your point that we
> should not make it any more complicated than it needs to be otherwise.  

I try to keep front and rear bearing angles roughly equal, but 
it's really not all that critical. As long as there is a total 
bearing angle in the range you allow, without a negative front 
or rear angle, it'll be fine.
Ron N