Wood Upper Bridges aka "Nut"

[reggaepass at aol.com]

Dave,
 
A year or so ago I, too, observed that there seems to be an unusually large proportion of bass players among piano technicians and asked for a hand count.  About twenty or so participants on this list responded in the affirmative for bass per se and other low end instruments (tuba, etc.).  I know that there are also some other well-known techs not on this list who are also bass players.  What does it mean?
 
Alan Eder
 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: algiers_piano at bellsouth.net
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Sent: Fri, 15 Dec 2006 4:18 AM
Subject: Re: Wood Upper Bridges aka "Nut"


Joe, boy did you bring back memories. 20+ years ago I put a big heavy brass bridge on a Hagstrom bass with similar results, less than a year later I got one of the very first G&Ls and wished I still had the original Hagstrom tone as a change up. Which raises the interesting question of how many piano tuners have some bass playing connection, it seems to be a surprisingly high percentage. 
 
I totally agree that different is not always bad, Im reworking a straight strung Erard at the moment, have worked on many pre 1900 instruments, the oldest a 1790s Broadwood square, and I firmly believe you should respect what you find in them. If you dont like what they were doing back then, there are plenty of Lesters, Aeolians, Brambachs from the modern era you are welcome to redesign and improve to your hearts content. Just my humble 2¢. 
 
---Dave 
New Orleans 
 
 
On 12/14/06, Joseph Garrett quoth: 
 
>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 
 
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