rear string lengths

[David Ilvedson]

Less stress on the plate?

David I.

On 5 Dec 2002 at 16:59, David Love wrote:

> 
> We don't have the luxury of that much backscale length on the standard
> S&M, I mean S&S where zero bearing is the usual target. I assume that
> is one of yours. I am curious about the bearing in the treble section
> as it relates to backscale length. Minimizing the bearing in the bass
> is something I am aware of for the reasons you mention. But what about
> in the treble. Would you consider modifying the bearing there
> depending on backscale length? And back to the question posted earlier
> and addressed to some degree by Ron O., what is the ideal backscale
> length for each section? How much must the backscale length deviate
> from the ideal length before you would consider modifying the bearing
> (if you would)?
> 
> And something else I've always wondered about, why, on many pianos, do
> hitch pins in the treble and tenor of many pianos not follow the curve
> of the bridge, but seem to go in a zig zag sort of pattern?
> 
> 
> 
> David Love
>     ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: Delwin D Fandrich 
> To: Pianotech 
> Sent: December 05, 2002 4:38 PM
> Subject: Re: rear string lengths
> 
> 
>     ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: David Love 
> To: Pianotech 
> Sent: December 05, 2002 4:24 PM
> Subject: Re: rear string lengths
> 
> Should the backscale length be taken into consideration when setting
> down bearing? Since a shorter backscale doesn't allow as much freedom
> of movement for the bridge, would you, then, consider reducing the
> bearing on a piano, or section, that had a shorter backscale, and vice
> versa? Is there some formula or general rule of thumb for this.
> 
> David Love
> 
> Yes. Conventional wisdom tells us to set bearing very light in the
> bass. This is why. With the extremely short backscales commonly found
> in the low bass of modern pianos setting any kind of string deflection
> is going to tie the bridge/soundboard assembly down completely. 
> 
> 
> 
> With a backscale as shown above normal string bearing -- in this case
> about 0.5º string deflection -- is not only possible, but necessary.
> 
> Del