False Beats / Loose pins

[Ric Brekne]

Hi Folks

Ran into a classic example today of why I am skeptical to the idea that 
loose bridge pins are the direct cause of false beats.  This was a small 
Bosendorfer grand 170ish in size and getting old. I can get the 
particulars if anyone wants them after Easter.  There were loose pins 
all over the place and particularilly in the upper treble. Good sized 
hairline cracks around the bridge pins here and there, lots of space on 
the string side of the pin between the pin and wood of the bridge pin 
holes.  I loosened a few strings just to be sure and you could pull the 
pins out with your fingers.  Now if that dont fit the description of 
loose pins I dont know what does.  However.... this was one of the 
cleanest sounding pianos I've ever come across.  False beats of the sort 
being identified with loose pins were virtually non existant, and for 
that matter there wasnt a whole lot of falsness of anykind.

The only marked difference between this instrument and most that I see 
was the diameter of the bridge pins.  They were big and looked to be the 
same size over the entire long bridge. I didnt have my micrometer along 
today, but they were the size you usually see in the bass bridge on most 
instruments.

So you tell me... loose pins are the direct cause of false beats ??? 
Then how do you explain this instrument ? Its not the only example I can 
pluck ... but its about the most pronounced I've found up to now.

Cheers
RicB