This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment Much is said, written, etc. about the modern grand piano belly rail and = making it stiff to provide a solid foundation to attach the soundboard = to. Two problems with the modern belly rail as I see it: First, it is = straight - a curve of similar cross section is always going to be more = stiff; and second, it is usually cut into three lengthwise pieces to = accommodate that half-centipede-looking contraption referred to as the = damper underlever system. I have seen on some old grand pianos (pre-1850) an over-damper system - = I seem to recall a Chickering (or was it a Broadwood - I think it had a = plaque on it saying how Lizst played the piano at one time) at a = convention a few years ago that had an over-damper system, i.e. the = dampers and damper lever system were mounted above the strings, thus = ridding the action cavity of all that volume-demanding damper = under-lever gobbly-gook. I don't know how the dampers were activated on = that piano, but I guess all you would need would be some type of a = simple, no-volume-required straight wire, much like you find in the big = monster American square grands of the 1860s -1880s. If fact, one can use = the square damper system to envision an improved modern grand = over-damper system.=20 Is there any fundamental reason an over-damper system would be inferior = to what we currently see on the modern grand? As I imagine it, you could = model an over-damper system from the square and even add an additional = pivot where the damper head attaches to the arm/lever - that way the = damper would always be self-adjusting every time it goes back down on = the strings - I should think the potential exists for longer-lasting = improved damping. And hey, one could even service the darn thing without = crawling into the action cavity. Hopefully someone will help me think this thing through - sure didn't = get much sleep last night...... ;-) Terry Farrell ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/pianotech.php/attachments/78/d6/f4/b6/attachment.htm ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment--
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