Wood Upper Bridges aka "Nut"

[David Nereson]

	I have a 1902 Hardman, Peck upright that has a wooden "nut" in the bass.
[I never knew it was called that in pianos, but I also play cello, which
along with other instruments in the viol family, has an ebony nut.] The
bass is very rich and resonant, sounding better than many "baby grands,"
but I always thought it was the strings -- and they're not even
copper-wound, except the lowest `10 or so.  The rest are nickel-wound, I
believe (they're gray).  But I can't say I've seen an upper string
termination of hardwood in pianos of the 1920's or later -- it's usually a
metal "ridge" on the plate, with bridge pins or agraffes.  So many other
factors enter into the tone production that it's difficult to narrow it
down to the type of upper string termination, but it's not hard to see why
it would affect the timbre of the bass strings.
	--David Nereson, RPT

-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org]On
Behalf Of Joseph Garrett
Sent: Thursday, December 14, 2006 8:34 PM
To: pianotech
Subject: Re: Wood Upper Bridges aka "Nut"


Don said: "I feel that there is also a negative impact on
the tone of having such a soft termination as a
wood bridge at both ends of the strings, as with
your Bl?thner. At least, it would be negative to
me, but then perhaps a more muted tone quality
with shorter sustain in the high partials (which
can seem to enhance the fundamental) was the intention of the designer."

Don,
 I dunno if it could be considered "..a negative impact on the tone...."
One major instance that comes to mind is my olde Hagstrom Bass Guitar. It
came with a wood lower bridge and phenolic nut. The tone was very
distinctive. At the time that I needed a bass with more "bite", I modified
it by putting a brass bridge and an Elk horn nut. The tone was a totally
different thing. More "bite" and the harmonics were less subdued.
As I work on a lot of really olde pianer thingees, I've noticed that the
pianos with a wooden Nut, have a completely different sound. I choose to
think that this was a preferred sound pre-1900. I guess what I'm trying to
say, is that the sound will be different but not necessarily "bad"
....just
different.
I don't think that a reversal of tone preference is anything that will
occur,...but....it is interesting to say the least
Regards,

Joseph Garrett, R.P.T.
Captain, Tool Police
Squares R I