This Needs A Definitive Settlement was RE: 12 cents

[Greg Newell]

I too am convinced that the bridge plays a very large part in pitch 
stability.  Specifically, as you have said Ron, how well the strings render 
across it. Have there ever been any experiments regarding a laminate of 
some kind on the bridge top before the pins are drilled? I'm thinking of 
some sort of brass sheeting or other permanently lubricious material. 
Further since there is wear on the side of a bridge pin causing a small 
divot in the surface over which the sting passes it seems that a headless 
screw might be beneficial here. Perhaps even Stainless steel for it's 
hardness? If false beats that we all know and love develop we could just 
turn the pin to a clean surface. Since these are screws and have possibly 
more contact with the wood than a straight pin they might not get as loose 
as soon. Thoughts?

Greg Newell


At 01:00 PM 6/30/2003, you wrote:

>>I may be wrong (always a distinct possibility) but didn't Dr. Sanderson
>>and others test this whole business and determine that all changes to
>>the piano caused by changing string tensions are immediate?
>
>I agree. I don't see how plates and frames will be shifting significantly 
>with a minor pitch adjustment. There is a very definite factor, however, 
>that is almost universally ignored, and that is strings rendering through 
>bridges.
>
>We most likely aren't going to get string segment tensions on opposite 
>sides of the conventionally pinned bridge equal with just a normal and/or 
>usual tuning. It isn't going to happen, as we have no way of determining 
>what those tension differences are, and there is enough friction across 
>that bridge to allow for a considerable difference (in resulting pitch). 
>Over a couple of days, especially with play, segment tensions will more 
>nearly equalize and the tuning will drift. Doing the second tuning a week 
>or so after the pitch correction will leave a better tuning for a longer 
>time, but you need a customer who is willing to pay for a nicety they may 
>very well not be in a position to appreciate, given that the piano was 
>allowed to get into a condition of needing a pitch correction before it 
>was tuned this time.
>
>There isn't any ONE, ABSOLUTE, DEFINITIVE ANSWER, but I'm convinced that 
>friction at the bridge is a much larger part of this than is typically 
>given credit, and very likely the major cause.
>
>Ron N
>
>_______________________________________________
>pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives

Greg Newell
Greg's piano Forté
mailto:gnewell@ameritech.net