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<DIV>In a message dated 3/31/2004 10:04:57 PM Central Standard Time, Tunapia=
ner@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 di=
sturbed 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 th=
ere long-term effects? What if you never tap <BR>them down? How =
often to tap? Sure messes up stability...<BR><BR>Greg Soule<BR>Pensaco=
la, 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 t=
he tone. So why would you not tap the strings? As long as you use a brass ro=
d 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 t=
hink It reduces the impact of the rod on the string. However, I wa=
s 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 A=
labama</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>