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<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 =
Skolnik<BR><B>Sent:</B>
Monday, March 29, 2004 11:52 PM<BR><B>To:</B> =
jpstickney@montanadsl.net;
College and University Technicians<BR><B>Subject:</B> Re: Tuning
stability<BR><BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV>Fred and Marc..can you tell me what is accomplished by sanding =
(or
planing) out the string grooves? As much as we are cautioned =
about "over
tapping" the strings to the bridge, it seems it would be a lot easier =
to do
serious damage in the groove-removal effort. Likewise, unless =
the bridge
edge has been mangled, what would be the purpose of
renotching?<BR><BR><BR><BR>David Skolnik<BR><BR><SPAN
class=640323620-30032004><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2>[Mark
Cramer] </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=640323620-30032004><FONT face=Arial =
color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=640323620-30032004><FONT face=Arial =
color=#0000ff
size=2>David,</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=640323620-30032004><FONT face=Arial =
color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=640323620-30032004><FONT face=Arial><FONT =
color=#0000ff
size=2>Bridge tops are a bit like hammers, in that strings cut =
into both,
and that does </FONT></FONT></SPAN><SPAN =
class=640323620-30032004><FONT
face=Arial><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>diminish clarity.
</FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=640323620-30032004><FONT face=Arial =
color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=640323620-30032004><FONT face=Arial =
color=#0000ff size=2>When
you re-surface a bridge, it's just to restore optimal string
contact.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=640323620-30032004><FONT face=Arial =
color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=640323620-30032004><FONT face=Arial =
color=#0000ff size=2>Some
people think filing hammers reduces their life, due to all the felt =
removal.
</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=640323620-30032004><FONT face=Arial =
color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=640323620-30032004><FONT face=Arial =
color=#0000ff size=2>If
your habit is to file well below the string cuts, then perhaps
that's true, however, in most cases we're merely re-shaping the =
hammer's
profile to match the contact surface the strings have already
created.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=640323620-30032004><FONT face=Arial =
color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=640323620-30032004><FONT face=Arial =
color=#0000ff size=2>Same
with surfacing the bridge, though I'm often asked " doesn't that =
reduce
down-bearing?"</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=640323620-30032004><FONT face=Arial =
color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=640323620-30032004><FONT face=Arial =
color=#0000ff size=2>My
answer, as I only surface til the grooves are faint (not =
invisible) would
be "no," though over-zealous string-settling and =
seasonally-excessive
down-bearing might.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=640323620-30032004><FONT face=Arial =
color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=640323620-30032004><FONT face=Arial =
color=#0000ff size=2>So,
for whatever reason, the grooves are there, and they do affect tonal =
clarity
by extending wood contact beyond the termination, into the speaking =
length.
</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=640323620-30032004><FONT face=Arial =
color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=640323620-30032004><FONT face=Arial =
color=#0000ff size=2>By
experience (have you ever obsessed over a mysterious "dead-note" only =
to find
it cause by a peice of lint under the capo?) providing solid/clean
string-terminations and bearings all the way along, is well worth =
the
effort.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=640323620-30032004><FONT face=Arial =
color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=640323620-30032004><FONT face=Arial =
color=#0000ff size=2>Next
time you have a piano de-strung, have a look at the notches; they will =
likely
(hopefully) begin precisely through the center of the bridge-pin line, =
or
better still, just a "hair" behind.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=640323620-30032004><FONT face=Arial =
color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=640323620-30032004><FONT face=Arial =
color=#0000ff size=2>Now
take a close look at the string grooves. The deeper ones obviously =
extend well
into the bridge notch, and that's where the real string contact =
terminates,
not back at (and in tandem with) the bridge-pin as it
should.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=640323620-30032004><FONT face=Arial =
color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=640323620-30032004><FONT face=Arial =
color=#0000ff size=2>If
you've ever encountered a "shallow notch" where the oscillating =
string
contacts the notch
(buzzing), though there's </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=640323620-30032004><FONT face=Arial =
color=#0000ff size=2>no
"visible" string contact, you'll agree, string contact =
(interference) can
take place well beyond what's visible. (casual contact, the most =
dangerous
kind!)</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=640323620-30032004><FONT face=Arial =
color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=640323620-30032004><FONT face=Arial =
color=#0000ff
size=2>Having said all that, I wouldn't want to encourage anyone =
unsure of
this work to do something that may damage a piano.
</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=640323620-30032004><FONT face=Arial =
color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=640323620-30032004><FONT face=Arial =
color=#0000ff
size=2>Everyone contemplating this should read the article described =
below.
Bill's writing has a gentle way of inspiring, convincing and then =
empowering
you. (Dr. Bill?) </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=640323620-30032004><FONT face=Arial =
color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=640323620-30032004><FONT face=Arial =
color=#0000ff
size=2>However, still hoping to answer your question David, I would =
suggest in
the same vein that we describe bridge-pins as "loose," capos and =
agraffes as
"grooved" and strings as "kinked," the bridge cap is indeed =
"mangled."</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=640323620-30032004><FONT face=Arial =
color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=640323620-30032004><FONT face=Arial =
color=#0000ff
size=2>What's more, no special skills are required to re-dress the =
bridge
cap than any of the other defects described =
above.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=640323620-30032004><FONT face=Arial =
color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=640323620-30032004><FONT face=Arial =
color=#0000ff size=2>Bill
Spurlock caught my attention a decade ago with the following comment;
</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=640323620-30032004><FONT face=Arial =
color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=640323620-30032004><FONT face=Arial =
color=#0000ff
size=2>"occasionally I have skipped this work (bridge =
reconditioning) on a
particularly well-preserved piano, only to find a disappointing number =
of
false beats and variations in tone from string to string. Removing a =
few
strings and spot repairing has significantly improved the situation, =
leading
me to adopt the procedures here as standard practice whether =
repairing an
old bridge or building a new one."</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=640323620-30032004><FONT face=Arial =
color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=640323620-30032004><FONT face=Arial =
color=#0000ff
size=2>Bridge Repairs for Better Tone; Bill Spurlock, PT =
Journal,March
1992</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=640323620-30032004><FONT face=Arial =
color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=640323620-30032004><FONT face=Arial =
color=#0000ff
size=2>I've always been pleased with the results David, and am =
sure you
will be too.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=640323620-30032004><FONT face=Arial =
color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=640323620-30032004><FONT face=Arial =
color=#0000ff
size=2>Meanwhile, the forecast is sunny and 12 degrees C tomorrow.
</FONT></SPAN><SPAN class=640323620-30032004><FONT face=Arial =
color=#0000ff
size=2>I'm off to the lake and see if I can finish plumbing the =
second
floor. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=640323620-30032004><FONT face=Arial =
color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=640323620-30032004><FONT face=Arial =
color=#0000ff
size=2>There are still about 30 ice-fishing shacks out on the lake, =
anyone
want to wager when the last one will fall through?</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=640323620-30032004><FONT face=Arial =
color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=640323620-30032004><FONT face=Arial =
color=#0000ff size=2>(if
you don't know what ice-fishing is, do a google search or call =
Garrison
Keelor!)</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=640323620-30032004><FONT face=Arial =
color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=640323620-30032004><FONT face=Arial =
color=#0000ff size=2>best
regards,</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=640323620-30032004><FONT face=Arial =
color=#0000ff size=2>Mark
Cramer,</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=640323620-30032004><FONT face=Arial =
color=#0000ff
size=2>Brandon University</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=640323620-30032004> </SPAN></DIV>
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class=640323620-30032004><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
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