[CAUT] pre-stretching new string?

[A440A at aol.com]

Don writes: 
<< - Lightly tap strings behind bridge and in front of bridge at an angle -
not down, but in towards the bridge pin. >>

    I do this on new wire, but have also found that after everything is said 
and done, there is still a surprising amount of flatness that will show up if 
I lightly tap the string towards the speaking length bridge pin *between* the 
bridge pins.  I use a very smooth flat-bladed screw driver, held as flat to 
the plane of the bridge as possible.  Under tension, it takes very little force 
to make a change.   
     I think there is considerable distortion waiting behind the bridgepin 
and a slight tap allows the string to move a small increment towards the 
speaking length.  Try it, you may find this is also a repository of flatness/length, 
( ROFL ??)  

Regards,



Ed Foote RPT 
http://www.uk-piano.org/edfoote/index.html
www.uk-piano.org/edfoote/well_tempered_piano.html
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