<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40" xmlns:v = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:st1 = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"><HEAD><TITLE>Message</TITLE> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.2912" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE>v\:* { BEHAVIOR: url(#default#VML) } o\:* { BEHAVIOR: url(#default#VML) } w\:* { BEHAVIOR: url(#default#VML) } .shape { BEHAVIOR: url(#default#VML) } </STYLE> <o:SmartTagType name="country-region" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:SmartTagType><o:SmartTagType name="State" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:SmartTagType><o:SmartTagType name="PlaceName" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:SmartTagType><o:SmartTagType name="PlaceType" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:SmartTagType><o:SmartTagType name="City" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:SmartTagType><o:SmartTagType name="place" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:SmartTagType> <STYLE>@font-face { font-family: Helvetica; } @font-face { font-family: Tahoma; } @font-face { font-family: Baskerville Old Face; } @font-face { font-family: Bradley Hand ITC; } @font-face { font-family: Benguiat; } @page Section1 {size: 8.5in 11.0in; margin: 1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; } P.MsoNormal { FONT-SIZE: 12pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman" } LI.MsoNormal { FONT-SIZE: 12pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman" } DIV.MsoNormal { FONT-SIZE: 12pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman" } A:link { COLOR: blue; TEXT-DECORATION: underline } SPAN.MsoHyperlink { COLOR: blue; TEXT-DECORATION: underline } A:visited { COLOR: blue; TEXT-DECORATION: underline } SPAN.MsoHyperlinkFollowed { COLOR: blue; TEXT-DECORATION: underline } P.MsoAutoSig { FONT-SIZE: 12pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0in; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0in; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman"; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto } LI.MsoAutoSig { FONT-SIZE: 12pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0in; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0in; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman"; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto } DIV.MsoAutoSig { FONT-SIZE: 12pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0in; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0in; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman"; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto } P { FONT-SIZE: 12pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0in; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0in; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman"; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto } SPAN.EmailStyle22 { FONT-WEIGHT: normal; COLOR: blue; FONT-STYLE: normal; FONT-FAMILY: "Baskerville Old Face"; TEXT-DECORATION: none; mso-style-type: personal-reply } DIV.Section1 { page: Section1 } </STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY lang=EN-US style="WORD-WRAP: break-word; khtml-nbsp-mode: space; khtml-line-break: after-white-space" vLink=blue link=blue bgColor=white> <DIV>Yes, you could use the keybed to level.   However, the sting's "plane" is most</DIV> <DIV>important.   But, to be "real" about the whole thing,  a bubble in a glass will get</DIV> <DIV>you as close to 1-3 degrees on "0" level.   That's plenty accurate to plane the </DIV> <DIV>piano before leveling your strings.  ( don't you think ? )   I put a level across</DIV> <DIV>the bass strings and then across ( the exposed ) mid and treble stings for the purpose.</DIV> <DIV>But,  "do"  check the piano "level" plane.   OR, your bubble on two or three strings</DIV> <DIV>won't be accurate.   Make sense ??      [ real  "basic"  engineering ]  but, something to think about.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Dan Tassin, RPT</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>=========================================================</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>On Sun, 23 Jul 2006 00:15:11 -0400 "Chris Solliday" <<A href="mailto:solliday@ptd.net">solliday@ptd.net</A>> writes:</DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="PADDING-LEFT: 10px; MARGIN-LEFT: 10px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid"> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>how about the keybed?</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Chris Solliday</FONT></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV> <DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A title=dltassinpiano@juno.com href="mailto:dltassinpiano@juno.com">dan l tassin</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> Friday, July 21, 2006 5:31 PM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [CAUT] Agraff levels</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV>AND  ...   ALL stages and floors are NOT alike.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>SO ...      Don't forget to   "level"  the piano before you use your bubble gauge.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Your strings might  "tilt"  in the direction of the Sun,  just like the earth.   </DIV> <DIV>( aka :  Summer Time --  "Global Warming" )    Performers  "heat up"  when</DIV> <DIV>their strings aren't level.   ( Remember =  spell it backwards :  L e v e L ).</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>This is very important to remember.    How does one level the piano ??</DIV> <DIV>Try a longer, straight ( carpenter's ) level across the majority of strings, or</DIV> <DIV>from side-to-side across the rim of the piano ( just behind the music desk),</DIV> <DIV>or on top of the stretcher.   [ it'll be close enough to check it. ]    Then,</DIV> <DIV>Shims under the casters will work, or use a jack ( in the box ) on the low side.</DIV> <DIV>( having a student hold it up on one side won't be stable enough.)</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Do all of this  ONLY  ---  if you want it to be "accurate."   ....     Etarucca !!</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Dan Tassin, RPT</DIV> <DIV>Asst. Piano Tech,</DIV> <DIV>Vanderbilt, Blair SOM</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>On Thu, 20 Jul 2006 08:40:22 -0400 "Becker, Lawrence \(beckerlr\)" <<A href="mailto:BECKERLR@ucmail.uc.edu">BECKERLR@ucmail.uc.edu</A>> writes:</DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="PADDING-LEFT: 10px; MARGIN-LEFT: 10px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid"> <DIV class=Section1> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Baskerville Old Face" color=blue size=4><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: 'Baskerville Old Face'">Joe-<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Baskerville Old Face" color=blue size=4><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: 'Baskerville Old Face'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Baskerville Old Face" color=blue size=4><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: 'Baskerville Old Face'">I have a way that works for me to use your bubble gauge near the struts and where there isn�t room between the dampers and v-bar.  I use a short section of flat brass that has been squared at both ends.  Stand it upright on the strings just in front of the damper, with the bottom of the level in solid contact with the top of the brass piece.  I center the bubble, then pluck the strings.  (Different than sitting the gauge on the strings and seeing where the bubble goes.)  Trying to hold both pieces in one hand might feel a little fumbly at first, but if I can do it, so can most other folks.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Baskerville Old Face" color=blue size=4><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: 'Baskerville Old Face'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><STRONG><B><FONT face="Baskerville Old Face" color=blue size=4><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: 'Baskerville Old Face'">Lawrence</SPAN></FONT></B></STRONG></st1:place></st1:City><STRONG><B><FONT face="Baskerville Old Face" color=blue size=4><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: 'Baskerville Old Face'"> Becker, RPT</SPAN></FONT></B></STRONG><FONT color=blue><SPAN style="COLOR: blue"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal><STRONG><B><FONT face="Baskerville Old Face" color=blue size=4><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: 'Baskerville Old Face'">Piano Technician</SPAN></FONT></B></STRONG><FONT color=blue><SPAN style="COLOR: blue"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal><STRONG><B><FONT face="Baskerville Old Face" color=blue size=4><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: 'Baskerville Old Face'">College-Conservatory of Music</SPAN></FONT></B></STRONG><FONT color=blue><SPAN style="COLOR: blue"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType w:st="on"><STRONG><B><FONT face="Baskerville Old Face" color=blue size=4><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: 'Baskerville Old Face'">University</SPAN></FONT></B></STRONG></st1:PlaceType><STRONG><B><FONT face="Baskerville Old Face" color=blue size=4><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: 'Baskerville Old Face'"> of <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Cincinnati</st1:PlaceName></SPAN></FONT></B></STRONG></st1:place><o:p></o:p></P></DIV> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <HR tabIndex=-1 align=center width="100%" SIZE=2> </SPAN></FONT></DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><B><FONT face=Tahoma size=2><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">From:</SPAN></FONT></B><FONT face=Tahoma size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"> caut-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces@ptg.org] <B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">On Behalf Of </SPAN></B>Joe And Penny Goss<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Sent:</SPAN></B> Wednesday, July 19, 2006 3:45 PM<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">To:</SPAN></B> College and University Technicians<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Subject:</SPAN></B> Re: [CAUT] Agraff levels</SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P></DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Hi Should have proofed</SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Their</SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The thinner vial is inserted into a hole drilled into the 1/4" body of the level with a window that helps make certain the tool is used in the same orientation each and every time.</SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The most often asked question?</SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">"Does the piano need to be level?"</SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Yes, but only to determine if the bubble is in the window. If it is, level to the same spot.</SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">If it is not, one needs to shim a leg.</SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">With uneven agraff,</SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">level the strings to the foot of the tool with the least slant, and file the hammer to mate the string.</SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">At the struts often one or two unisons can not be leveled with the foot. Eric Schandall showed me how he lays the level on its side under the strut to reach these strings. </SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Eric has purchased 20 or so levels. I think he gives them away to folks who attend Steinway seminars and do not have one <g></SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Joe Goss RPT<BR>Mother Goose Tools<BR><A href="mailto:imatunr@srvinet.com">imatunr@srvinet.com</A><BR><A href="http://www.mothergoosetools.com">www.mothergoosetools.com</A><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: medium none; PADDING-LEFT: 4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; MARGIN: 5pt 0in 5pt 3.75pt; BORDER-LEFT: black 1.5pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none"> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">----- Original Message ----- <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV> <DIV style="font-color: black"> <P class=MsoNormal style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4"><B><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">From:</SPAN></FONT></B><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> <A title=imatunr@srvinet.com href="mailto:imatunr@srvinet.com">Joe And Penny Goss</A> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><B><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">To:</SPAN></FONT></B><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> <A title=caut@ptg.org href="mailto:caut@ptg.org">College and University Technicians</A> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><B><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Sent:</SPAN></FONT></B><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> Wednesday, July 19, 2006 1:16 PM<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><B><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Subject:</SPAN></FONT></B><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> Re: [CAUT] Agraff levels<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Hi Lance,</SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">To my knowledge string - hammer mating was never done on the level ( sorry ) that it is today.</SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">It was more a mater of mating the hammer to whatever the strings were. Sorry if there was a problem when the una corda pedal was used.</SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">It may have been Fazioli who was the first to use a level on their instruments. There level was / is </SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">a piece of brass H channel with a vial in the top and the base cut so it will cover just one unison.</SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Very light and for me too light. When one plucks the string too hard to test for good mating, the level tends to bounce off the unison.</SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">I introduced my first level at the <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Orlando</st1:place></st1:City> national. It was way too light. Only 10 were made.</SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">We settled on using a brass blank that weighs about 45 grams and with the vial almost 50 grams.</SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The only real change in the brass model was to use a thinner vial so that the tool would stand up a little better to dropage without the vial popping off.</SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Joe Goss RPT<BR>Mother Goose Tools<BR><A href="mailto:imatunr@srvinet.com">imatunr@srvinet.com</A><BR><A href="http://www.mothergoosetools.com">www.mothergoosetools.com</A><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: medium none; PADDING-LEFT: 4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; MARGIN: 5pt 0in 5pt 3.75pt; BORDER-LEFT: black 1.5pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none"> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">----- Original Message ----- <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV> <DIV style="font-color: black"> <P class=MsoNormal style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4"><B><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">From:</SPAN></FONT></B><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> <A title=lafargue@bellsouth.net href="mailto:lafargue@bellsouth.net">lafargue@bellsouth.net</A> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><B><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">To:</SPAN></FONT></B><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> <A title=caut@ptg.org href="mailto:caut@ptg.org">'College and University Technicians'</A> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><B><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Sent:</SPAN></FONT></B><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> Wednesday, July 19, 2006 8:42 AM<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><B><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Subject:</SPAN></FONT></B><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> Re: [CAUT] Agraff levels<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=blue size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">At the beginning of this thread I was concerned about an <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Estonia</st1:place></st1:country-region> with tilted agraffes and uneven agraffe/string holes.  It was to the point that I couldn't bend a string enough to compensate for good string/hammer mating. I have seen this on other pianos, but not this much.  </SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=blue size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">It would be interesting to know who makes agraffes and are the plate makers aware of the importance of a level plane (duh, probably).  With the increase in our world-wide market for parts now, I wonder who makes them.  </SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=blue size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The bottom line is that you cannot prep a piano to a high level without this to lay a foundation on.  </SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoAutoSig><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Lance Lafargue, RPT<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoAutoSig><FONT face=Benguiat size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Benguiat">LAFARGUE PIANOS, LTD</SPAN></FONT><FONT face="Bradley Hand ITC"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Bradley Hand ITC'"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoAutoSig><st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">New Orleans</SPAN></FONT></st1:place></st1:City> Chapter, PTG<o:p></o:p></P> <P class=MsoAutoSig><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">985.72P.IANO<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoAutoSig><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><A href="mailto:lafargue@bellsouth.net">lafargue@bellsouth.net</A></SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P> <P class=MsoAutoSig><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><A href="http://www.lpianos.com/">www.lpianos.com</A></SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P> <P class=MsoAutoSig><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><A href="http://www.lafarguepianos.com/"></A></SPAN></FONT> <o:p></o:p></P> <P class=MsoAutoSig><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: medium none; PADDING-LEFT: 4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; MARGIN: 5pt 0in 5pt 3.75pt; BORDER-LEFT: blue 1.5pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none"> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 12pt"><FONT face=Tahoma size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">-----Original Message-----<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">From:</SPAN></B> caut-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces@ptg.org] <B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">On Behalf Of </SPAN></B>Fred Sturm<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Sent:</SPAN></B> Tuesday, July 18, 2006 8:53 AM<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">To:</SPAN></B> College and University Technicians<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Subject:</SPAN></B> Re: [CAUT] Agraff levels</SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">I don't know where Steinway buys agraffes, but they now own Kelly Plate, and they have upgraded that facility to install a computer controlled drilling process. The spacing of agraffes in new pianos is MUCH better in the past two to three years. I suspect the square of the holes (hence lack of cant of the agraffes) is much better, too - I haven't noticed much trouble leveling strings on the few new instruments I have serviced. They used to have Kelly drill their plates. Bad idea.  <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">All that said, perfection of hole drilling in cast iron is iffy at best. The unevenness of the material itself causes bits to chatter, at least in my experience. It's not like drilling brass.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P> <DIV><SPAN style="WORD-SPACING: 0px; border-spacing: 0px 0px; khtml-text-decorations-in-effect: none; apple-text-size-adjust: auto; orphans: 2; widows: 2"><SPAN style="WORD-SPACING: 0px; border-spacing: 0px 0px; khtml-text-decorations-in-effect: none; apple-text-size-adjust: auto; orphans: 2; widows: 2"> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Helvetica color=black size=1><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica">Regards,<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Helvetica color=black size=1><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica">Fred Sturm<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType w:st="on"><FONT face=Helvetica color=black size=1><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica">University</SPAN></FONT></st1:PlaceType><FONT face=Helvetica color=black size=1><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica"> of <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">New Mexico</st1:PlaceName></SPAN></FONT></st1:place><FONT face=Helvetica color=black size=1><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Helvetica color=black size=1><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica"><A href="mailto:fssturm@unm.edu">fssturm@unm.edu</A><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Helvetica color=black size=1><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Helvetica color=black size=1><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica"><BR><BR></SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P></DIV></SPAN></SPAN> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P> <DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">On Jul 17, 2006, at 8:04 PM, Willem Blees wrote:<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><BR><BR><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Helvetica size=1><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica">It sounds like we're talking about two different issues. One is the<SPAN class=apple-converted-space> </SPAN></SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Helvetica size=1><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica">level of the agraff itself, compared to the level of the of the plate.<SPAN class=apple-converted-space> </SPAN></SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Helvetica size=1><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica">What you claiming is that the plane of the agraff holes are not level<SPAN class=apple-converted-space> </SPAN></SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Helvetica size=1><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica">with the plate. Which could be caused by poor drilling, or that the<SPAN class=apple-converted-space> </SPAN></SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Helvetica size=1><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica">counter sink of the agraff hole is not flat, which will cause the<SPAN class=apple-converted-space> </SPAN></SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Helvetica size=1><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica">agraff to cant to one side when it is tightened.<SPAN class=apple-converted-space> </SPAN></SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P> <P style="MIN-HEIGHT: 14px; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Helvetica size=1><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Helvetica size=1><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica">The other issue is the holes in the agraff, which is what I was<SPAN class=apple-converted-space> </SPAN></SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Helvetica size=1><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica">referrring to. Although there might be very minute differnces in the<SPAN class=apple-converted-space> </SPAN></SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Helvetica size=1><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica">plane of the holes compared to the top of the agraff, I think the holes<SPAN class=apple-converted-space> </SPAN></SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Helvetica size=1><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica">themselves are level.<SPAN class=apple-converted-space> </SPAN></SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P> <P style="MIN-HEIGHT: 14px; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Helvetica size=1><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Helvetica size=1><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica">BTW, does Steinway make their own agraffs, or are they outsourced?</SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P> <P style="MIN-HEIGHT: 14px; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Helvetica size=1><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Helvetica size=1><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica">Wim<SPAN class=apple-converted-space> </SPAN></SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Helvetica size=1><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica">Willem Blees, RPT</SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Helvetica size=1><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica">Piano Tuner/Technician</SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType w:st="on"><FONT face=Helvetica size=1><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica">School</SPAN></FONT></st1:PlaceType><FONT face=Helvetica size=1><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica"> of <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Music</st1:PlaceName></SPAN></FONT></st1:place><o:p></o:p></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType w:st="on"><FONT face=Helvetica size=1><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica">University</SPAN></FONT></st1:PlaceType><FONT face=Helvetica size=1><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica"> of <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Alabama</st1:PlaceName></SPAN></FONT></st1:place><o:p></o:p></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on"><FONT face=Helvetica size=1><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica">Tuscaloosa</SPAN></FONT></st1:City><FONT face=Helvetica size=1><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica">, <st1:State w:st="on">AL</st1:State> <st1:country-region w:st="on">USA</st1:country-region></SPAN></FONT></st1:place><o:p></o:p></P></DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV> <DIV> </DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE> <DIV> </DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>