<HTML> <HEAD> <TITLE>Re: [CAUT] prepared pianos</TITLE> </HEAD> <BODY> On 12/1/07 7:33 AM, "reggaepass@aol.com" <reggaepass@aol.com> wrote: <BLOCKQUOTE> Thank you, Fred, for your recommendation of our video.   Like the BYU guidelines, in the video we recommended using chaulk.  Our thinking has since "evolved" on this point. In an addendum we send out with every copy of "Non-Traditional Piano Use",  we  recommend that for most people, some kind of low-residue tape may work much better.   Fred, do you use the post-it edge rather than blue Scotch painters tape, or even drafting tape because they are too sticky? Alan Eder </BLOCKQUOTE> Hi Alan,     My use of Post-it pre-dated the blue tape. But I still prefer it for weight, and for ease of cutting a tiny strip and applying it. Also good for other labeling like damper heads and agraffes (easier to write on and to read what is written). Masking type tapes are thicker and have enough mass (depending how much is used) to “smear” the unison. And they do have more adhesive, which has the potential to stay on the string, though fortunately much less so than old masking tape. I guess my recommendation also has to do with keeping it simple. Most everyone has access to post-its. And not everyone has the intelligence or experience to be clear about differences in types of masking and other purpose tapes. But really I have no objection to Scotch blue, drafting, or gaffers tapes. I don’t think they leave enough residue to worry about.     BTW, the best alternative is to have a Sauter grand with the nodes marked nicely on the soundboard, and the damper heads pre-marked. Let’s all go out and buy one <G>. Regards, Fred Sturm University of New Mexico </BODY> </HTML>