Bridge Disaster- - Should be Bridge From Hell!!

[Ric Brekne]

Hi Terry, and others

I'm not sure one can say the bridge cap is clearly too low... or not 
give the little bit of info we really have to go on. The 4 significant 
ruptures in the bridge surface found in the first picture dont explain 
why most of the other strings are off the surface in the second picture 
as well. But still the picture only suggests possibilities. Given the 
rest of the origional  description supplied by Alan, my initial thoughts 
naturally enough go along the lines of suspecting similiar craftmanship 
concerning the rest of the piano. Ergo... it would not suprise me at all 
to find the bridge surface under the string line for --whatever-- 
reasons.  Some of these pianos are put together in amazing (in the 
negatively loaded sense) fashion.

So.  I would suggest making sure that there are no ah.... shall we say 
<<contributing conditions>> such as a collapsed soundboard or one just 
plain built with reverse crown... or whatever else before bothering to 
put any time and effort into attempting a repair.  If it turns out that 
you can simply re-cap with a bit more height and all will be well... 
well heck... I go with the wood workers and would opt away from the 
epoxy solution... I mean all in all its not any more difficult for such 
a short bridge.. and probably good practice.

On the side... interesting to note on both pictures clear evidence of 
this being strung wrong for some period of time... notice the second set 
of string indentations.  Also notice the very deep indentations seen at 
both ends.  Clearly this bridge has been <<dealt with>> before.

Cheers
RicB


-------------------

As Ric B pointed out, the strings are lifting well off the bridge cap - 
clearly the bridge cap is too low (I hadn't noticed that originally). 
Probably not going to get around putting a new cap on it. If it weren't for 
that, I agree, oodles of great things can be done with epoxy!

Terry Farrell