After meticulously tuning a dilapidated upright piano in the back of a dark stage at a school, I reached down with my foot and found the sustain pedal was broken off and missing. In order to avoid having this the best tuned piano in the landfill (and to get paid), I disconnected the middle pedal and gerryrigged it to act as the sustain pedal and all is well in the tuning world. Which brings me to my question - does anyone know the history of why there is a useless middle pedal on inexpensive upright pianos? Is it as the proverbial expression implies "Nipples on a bull"?(Apologies to the ladies) How did it begin? Is it just psychological? Do they do this in Europe? Phil Ryan Miami Beach
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