Fortepiano pinblock material

[Roger Jolly]

Hi Ed,
         Is the block dowelled and glued to the stretcher?  If not that
should give you the required stability.
Roger


At 09:19 PM 3/24/02 -0600, you wrote:
>Dear List-
>    I'm replacing the pinblock in a 1970's Zuckermann "Stein" Fortepiano.
>In the 1980's the string scale tension was increased at the direction of
>David Way, owner of Zuckermann Harpsichords.  The pinblock began to warp and
>the instrument is now unplayable.
>    First, I'm curious if anyone else has run into this, since this is a
>rather common instrument.  The owner has a xeroxed scale from Way, which
>makes me wonder if he had decided to rescale this model at a higher tension,
>and how many other instruments have warped pinblocks.  I also wonder if the
>same problem has occured with the lower tension original scale.  The
>original had .016" wire on the highest notes; the rescale had .018" wire on
>the highest notes.
>    Second, I'm wondering what material to use in the new pinblock.  It is
>supported at the ends only, no gap spacers.  The original appears to be
>solid beech.  Wouldn't Delignit or Falconwood be a stiffer material?
>Bolduc's 5 ply pinblock would be delightful to work with, but I fear it
>wouldn't be stiff enough. Or I could just use solid beech and hope it lasts
>a few decades.
>    I haven't decided whether to return to the original scale.  That is my
>inclination, but the owner states the instrument sounded better with the new
>scale.
>    I thank you in advance for your suggestions.
>        Ed Sutton
>
Roger Jolly
Balwin Yamaha Piano Centres.
Saskatoon/Regina.
Canada.