Capo bar noise

[Jim Coleman, Sr.]

Hi Lance:

The main problem with the model L is that there is an unhappy length
combination between the speaking length and the counter bearing length.
That's why putting some glue on the aliquot length helps; it changes
the frequency of that segment so that is does not resonate with the
speaking length of the string. Caution do not let glue  run down to the 
Capo Bar. As a result of my studies of this, the SF10 first came out
with individual termination peices that were of different lengths. This
was also applied to the SD10. Why something was not done to the L is
hard to understand since it was one of the worst offenders. This problem
is worse on the several notes just above where the Capo Bar begins.

Jim Coleman, Sr.

On Thu, 25 Sep 1997, Lance Lafargue wrote:

> I asked about this a few months back.  I'm surprised that Baldwin has not
> issued some statement of recommendation on this matter.  90% of the
> Baldwins I see from the 70's and early 80's have this problem.  One of my
> customers paid $800 to send her R back to the factory to correct the
> problem and it was exactly the same.  They restrung it, but left the old
> string marks on the capo bar,etc.  
> 
> I got temporary results by filing the bar, but it came back.  I have
> reduced some of it with a drop of glue or felt mute between the bar and the
> plate ridge near the pins.  I suspect downbearing, but that's mostly
> because it's the only thing I haven't tried.  It is so loud and annoying
> that it renders the instrument useless on a few of my customer's pianos. 
> I've got SD-10s with it too.  I find the problem in Young Changs a lot
> also.  
> 
> It must be predominantly ONE common factor.  But what???
> 
> Lance Lafargue, RPT
> New Orleans Chapter
> Covington, LA.
> lafargue@iamerica.net
> 
> ----------
> > From: Rob Kiddell <atonal@planet.eon.net>
> > To: pianotech@ptg.org
> > Subject: Capo bar noise
> > Date: Sunday, September 21, 1997 2:56 AM
> > 
> > Greetings list, 
> > 
> > 	I'm currently working on prepping a new Baldwin L grand (6'3"), and 
> > there is a problem with excessive high partial noise from the first 
> > section of strings above  the agraffe section. Simply put, it is an 
> > excessive high partial ringing that is absent in the agraffe section, 
> > but becomes immediately apparent in the Capo bar section. This noise 
> > is so harsh as to qualify for ear protectors on a ff blow.  It is 
> > amplified by the front duplex section between the Capo bar and the 
> > first plate ridge past the tuning pins, but muting this kills all 
> > high end frequency and leaves the section lifeless. Hammers are hard, 
> > but voicing (I've tried several approaches) only diminishes the 
> > overall hammer volume, the amount of the high end noise remains 
> > consistent with the overall volume of the note, either mellow, medium 
> > or bright. This noise is also evident when the string is plucked, so 
> > I feel hammer voicing is not the solution. I have seen this problem 
> > before on Baldwins, but strangely enough, the identical 6'3" piano on 
> > the sales floor exhibits none of this "noise", yet the front 
> > duplexing section on this piano is amplifying high partials as it 
> > should.   	 
> > 	I have spaced strings along the capo bar, streched 
> > strings, seated strings, muted strings, yet everything seems to come 
> > back to the Capo bar. Before I begin filing the Capo bar, are there 
> > any thoughts out there regarding this or similar problems?
> > 
> > 
> > Rob Kiddell
> > R.P.T., P.T.G.
> > C.A.P.T. Student
> > Edmonton, Canada
> > http://www.planet.eon.net/~atonal/atonal.html
>