[CAUT] [SPAM] Re: string dents

[Lance Lafargue]

This is to report my experiences with the Estonia with the string 
dents/false beats.  Thanks to everyone for your ideas.

The bridge is dented on the speaking side of the cap.  I pulled one note's 
unisons off, and filled the dents with CA and dripped some at the base of 
the bridge pins in case they were loose.  I regraphited, pulled the strings 
with a string hook to take the "dent" out of it and pulled back to pitch.  I 
seated the strings gently and tuned.  I found the false beats reduced into 
the background, but sustain was GONE.  I suspect this is from a soft 
termination now with the CA.
Then, I picked a similar note and just lossened and took the string dents 
out.  This note was much improved with the false beats way in the 
background, but still there (these are rapid beats).  I then loosened the 
whole section, used a Hart string voicing hook (very small radius) and 
smoothed all dents out as I could and retuned.  I generally found it much 
improved, but again, many of the beats are still there, but soft and in the 
background on most.

I also noticed a muting of the false beats with a screwdriver pressed on the 
offending string at the bridge cap AND I noted a similar reduction with a 
pair of visegrips put on the back bridge pin.  Thanks again.

Lance Lafargue, RPT
LAFARGUE PIANOS, LTD
LPIANOS.com
lafargue at bellsouth.net
4244 Hwy 22 Mandeville, LA 70471
985.72P.IANO
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ron Nossaman" <rnossaman at cox.net>
To: "College and University Technicians" <caut at ptg.org>
Sent: Saturday, December 16, 2006 11:04 AM
Subject: [SPAM] Re: [CAUT] string dents


>
>> A "new" RPT tech working for me got a little excited about string voicing 
>> and in the process of "tapping" down strings on a *_new_* piano, went too 
>> far.  The strings were hit in the speaking length segment, in the 
>> direction of termination with the bridge pin V.  In other words, 
>> straightening the speaking length segment before it terminates at the 
>> bridge pin. Consequently, there is a visible "dent/kink" in the wire in 
>> the speaking length just before the bridge termination, creating more 
>> false beats than the ones that were to be eliminated.  Is there a cure 
>> short of restringing that section?  i.e., loosening string and 
>> straightening wire with hook as good as possible and retightening? 
>> Thanks.
>>  Lance Lafargue, RPT
>
> The first thing I'd do is try to ascertain where the beats are actually 
> coming from. Has anyone at any time in this process tried pressing a 
> screwdriver against the bridge pin of a beating string to see if the beat 
> cleared up? If so, then string seating likely wasn't warranted in the 
> first place. Before presuming that the current false beats are caused by 
> string kinks (which I doubt), try the screwdriver test. The next likely 
> cause, producing much different but still "false" string noise, is lack of 
> mass in the bridge. A Vise-Grip clamped to a back bridge pin should tell 
> you if that's a problem. The damage to the bridge cap as already been 
> done, but you may still be able to quiet most of the false beating by 
> determining and directly addressing the cause. If it turns out to be the 
> kinks after all, you'll have to replace the strings.
> Ron N