<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML style="FONT-SIZE: x-small; FONT-FAMILY: MS Sans Serif"><HEAD>
<META charset=US-ASCII http-equiv=Content-Type
content="text/html; charset=US-ASCII">
<META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1400" name=GENERATOR></HEAD>
<BODY style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: =
#ffffff">
<DIV><SPAN class=402314520-01042004><FONT color=#000080 =
size=3><Half
serious> Hummm... how about a new invention? Perhaps a =
type of
micro bridge pin that could be adjusted or turned down a quarter turn or =
so to
make up for the indentation. ..... ahh what the heck just give it a =
"Jolly
Roger" tap. <couldn't help myself>.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=402314520-01042004><FONT color=#000080 =
size=3>Kindest
Regards,</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=402314520-01042004><FONT color=#000080
size=3>Garret</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=402314520-01042004>
<P><FONT face=Arial>Garret Traylor</FONT> <BR><FONT
face=Arial>garret@highpointpiano.com</FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial><A
href="http://www.highpointpiano.com/pages/caut.html"
target=_blank>http://www.highpointpiano.com/pages/caut.html</A></FONT> =
</P></SPAN></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader dir=ltr align=left><FONT =
face=Tahoma
size=2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B> =
caut-bounces@ptg.org
[mailto:caut-bounces@ptg.org]<B>On Behalf Of </B>David =
Love<BR><B>Sent:</B>
Thursday, April 01, 2004 11:20 AM<BR><B>To:</B> College and University =
Technicians<BR><B>Subject:</B> Re: Strings riding up (was Tuning
stability)<BR><BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="MS Sans Serif">I think the question that first =
needs to be
asked is why do you need to tap the strings. The assumption is =
that the
strings ride up on the bridge pins. Assuming positive bearing =
and proper
bridge pin angles with a bridge and pins in pristine condition that is =
not
likely. The reason tapping down seems to make a difference, =
however, is
important to examine. Over time, the strings cut into the =
bridge
pins creating a small indentation or notch in the side of the pin that =
the
string tends to want to ride in. At the same time, compression =
on the
bridge top (exacerbated by tapping down on the strings) lowers the =
contact
point on the bridge. Unseating on the bridge top tends to occur =
when the
contact point on the bridge top is lower than the indentation in the =
side of
the pin. Therefore, you are much better off tapping down the =
bridge pin
than the string. Tapping down the string will, at best, be a! =
temporary
measure. At worst, it can create a further disconnect as the =
contact
point on the bridge top is lowered due to further compression of the =
bridge
top. Tapping down the bridge pin will at least lower the =
indentation so
that it more closely coincides with the existing level of the bridge
top. Furthermore, false beats are usually a product of loose =
bridge pins
and a flagpolling of the pin which creates an oscillation. =
Tapping down
the pins and keeping the sting-pin contact point closer to the bridge =
top will
help this problem. Better would be to treat the loose pin with a =
few
drops of thin CA glue.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV>David Love</DIV>
<DIV><A
=
href="mailto:davidlovepianos@earthlink.net">davidlovepianos@earthlink.n=
et</A></DIV></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; =
BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt Arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: =
black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=Wimblees@aol.com =
href="mailto:Wimblees@aol.com"></A></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To: </B><A title=caut@ptg.org
href="mailto:caut@ptg.org">caut@ptg.org</A></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> 3/31/2004 9:31:21 PM =
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: Strings riding =
up (was
Tuning stability)</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV><FONT size=2>
<DIV>
<DIV>In a message dated 3/31/2004 10:04:57 PM Central Standard Time, =
Tunapianer@aol.com writes:</DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px =
solid"><FONT
face=Arial>Is the termination seriously compromised or disturbed =
when the
strings are <BR>allowed to ride up on the bridge pins? Aside =
from
the obvious weakened tone and <BR>potential false beats, are there =
long-term effects? What if you never tap <BR>them =
down? How
often to tap? Sure messes up stability...<BR><BR>Greg
Soule<BR>Pensacola, FL</FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV>
<DIV>Tapping strings should be done on an as needed basis. If you =
don't tap
the strings, it will, as you point out, create false beats, and it =
weakens
the tone. So why would you not tap the strings? As long as you use a =
brass
rod of some sort on the strings, I don't think you're going to =
compromise
the strings. Not only do I use a brass rod, I use a soft face hammer =
because
I think It reduces the impact of the rod on the string. =
However,
I was taught to always tap the strings on the bridge, not in =
front of
the bridge. This reduces the notching of the bridge. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Wim </DIV>
<DIV><FONT lang=0 face=Arial size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" =
PTSIZE="10">Willem
Blees, RPT<BR>Piano Technician<BR>School of Music<BR>University of
Alabama</FONT></DIV></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>