Foote Rattlers

[Frank Weston]

A440A@aol.com wrote:
> 
> Greetings all,
>      Ummm ,   HELP!!
>     I have run into a soundboard rattle that I cannot squelch.  It is a
> Steinway B, (Hamburg).  and there is a buzz on all the bass notes.  It is
> presently in a very high-dollar recording studio, so it absolutely has to be
> fixed.  Here is what I know about it;
>     Light pressure on the board, under the cut-outs around the bend between
> bass and treble areas will stop it, but wedging a small wedge between the
> board and bridge here will not.
>      From under the piano, I can lightly tug on the lowest three ribs and
> hear a scrunch,scrunch sound which sounds like splintered wood.  When doing
> this, the sound seems to come directly from the bridge.
> There are not visible cracks or repairs on the board or bridge in this area,
> and the buzz seems to be somewhat humidity dependant.
>    So,  shall I drill small holes from underneath, into the bottom of the
> bridge assembly, then fill with glue and hammer in shoe-plugs hoping to force
> glue into any opening inside this area?  This is what I may try, assuming
> that there is a separation in the board, under the bridge.  The edges of the
> board are tight, and there is no discernible separation between ribs and
> boards.  The dowels all appear to be tight.
>     Ideas, anyone?

Ed,

I have had very good luck with repairing invisible cracks with thin CA
glue.  I use the Bob Smith super gold, and it wicks like crazy.  If I
were you, before I drilled any holes, I would tilt the piano on its side
and run thin CA down all the ribs.  If there are joints that can be
accessed from the top do the same.  If there are fine cracks, the CA
will wick into them, and it may solve your problem.

Good Luck,

Frank Weston