<HTML style="FONT-SIZE: x-small; FONT-FAMILY: MS Sans Serif" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40" 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> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"> <META content=Word.Document name=ProgId> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1106" name=GENERATOR> <META content="Microsoft Word 10" name=Originator><LINK href="cid:filelist.xml@01C3929A.9BD803F0" rel=File-List><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> st1\:*{behavior:url(#default#ieooui) } </STYLE> <STYLE>  </STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY lang=EN-US style="tab-interval: .5in" vLink=purple link=blue> <DIV>Buzzing as you describe means leakage through the capo bar.  Though you can mute off the duplex, it will kill the tone.  Try lifting the strings on both sides of the capo bar.  Massage the strings from underneath is the best way with an old Steinway agraffe inserted into a combination handle (they fit perfectly).  Massage all three strings at once to keep them level.  If that doesn't work then it's not that difficult to lightly dress the capo bar on that note with a small file.  Take down the tension on the unison in question and unhitch at the hitchpin.  Pull the string through and out of the way, you can take it off the coil if you want, but it's not necessary.  Using a mirror and a flashlight so you can see what you are doing, file gently on both sides of the bar taking the tip of the "v" down to about .5 mm.  Polish with a strip of 1000 grit wet/dry paper.  Mix a solution of half 3in1oil,. half WD40 in a small bottle or hypo oiler.  Take a small bit on a q-tip and wipe a thin film over the "v" where you have filed.  (I use this solution after dressing the "v" and before stringing--thin wipe of film only).  Put the string back on and see what happens.  It should solve the problem.  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> <DIV>David Love</DIV> <DIV><A href="mailto:davidlovepianos@earthlink.net">davidlovepianos@earthlink.net</A></DIV> <DIV> </DIV></DIV> <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=lancelafargue@bellsouth.net href="mailto:lancelafargue@bellsouth.net">Lance Lafargue</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> 10/14/2003 7:32:11 PM </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Capo Buzz</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV><FONT size=2> <DIV class=Section1> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">I have always struggled with the capo buzz in many pianos. Young Chang/Prambergers I’ve never succeeded with, Steinways, I <U>usually</U> can do it.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">  </SPAN><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I have discussed this many times with many techs.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">  </SPAN>I am exhausted after a 14 hour day with three B’s one of which is still giving me fits. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It is a new Steinway B, prepped by a large reputable dealer.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">  </SPAN>The piano was/is nice.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">  </SPAN>But it was a little bright after some play and I went in, pitch raised it, stopped sympathetic aliquot ringing, leveled strings with my Mother Goose leveling tool, fit hammers to strings, worked on damper bleeding, etc.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">  </SPAN>There were several hammers, especially the first C at the V bar that had a buzzing quality.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">  </SPAN>I sugar coated/voiced, 3/8” needled the shoulders, evened everything out, got it acceptable, and the buzzing returned, a bit.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">  </SPAN>Enough to bug the customer.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">  </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">After more sugar coating (shallow needling at crown) and more 3/8” inch needles just off of the string marks (both straight down and in at an angle), I am at the point where I am killing the bell quality and volume to extinguish the metallic buzzes. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I believe these hammers were hardened with lacquer, not key top solution.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">  </SPAN>Tapping strings onto bridges, done, seating strings at every termination point, done. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This exists to some extent throughout the V bar area.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">  </SPAN>This is the buzzing that goes away when you put your finger on the front duplex section. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Just hoping I may hear something new (hoping not to hear a buzz). <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">I appreciate any new suggestions, I am so worn out!</SPAN></B><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoAutoSig><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-no-proof: yes">Lance Lafargue, RPT<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoAutoSig><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-no-proof: yes">LAFARGUE PIANOS</SPAN></FONT><FONT face="Bradley Hand ITC"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Bradley Hand ITC'; mso-no-proof: yes"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoAutoSig><st1:City><st1:place><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-no-proof: yes">New Orleans</SPAN></FONT></st1:place></st1:City><SPAN style="mso-no-proof: yes"> Chapter, PTG<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P> <P class=MsoAutoSig><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-no-proof: yes">985.72P.IANO<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoAutoSig><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-no-proof: yes">lancelafargue@bellsouth.net<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>