=?ISO-8859-1?Q?Re:_Bridge_Seating_(was_Re:_Where_to_notch_a_bridge, &_relative_effects_?????_(Advice_sought)?=

[Ric Brekne]

I cant speak for others of course, but for myself I can say that I have 
done exactly all these things on quite a few instruments since this 
theme first came to my attention. I find that in frequent instance the 
claim that strings can not be unseated in the face of a bridge face 
whose entire surface is above the line of deflection to be in error.  I  
find unseated strings in spite of this frequently on new instruments 
right out of the box.  

Its fairly easy to do a quick and dirty check... just loosen a string 
and run some 15 lb fishing line from the tuning pin to the hitch pin and 
pull it taught.  Take a magnifying glass and look carefully at any area 
of the bridge surface you have reason to question.  I have yet to find a 
new instrument with anything close to a problem in this regard.  Yet I 
have found many of these same with unseated strings.   The same can be 
said about older instruments but to a lesser degree.

For my part, I will be the first to emphasize the need to be careful and 
judicious with any string seating one does. And I will also be the first 
to agree that when the bridge no longer can provide a positive bearing 
plane for the string to seat on that string seating is only a very 
temporary fix that easily can worsen the real problem.  But I can not 
simply disregard what obvious and elementary observation clearly 
displays... that strings can and do indeed need seating in many 
instances where there is a positive bearing plane for the string. 

As far as giving the notion serious consideration.. I give the list as a 
whole a bit more credit for sincerity me thinks.  Several off list 
correspondances with list contributers reveal to me a fairly large gang 
of serious minded inquisitive technicians.  For those of you who have 
not done some real piano situation checks of these questions I echo 
Rons'  encouragement that you do so.  No point taking anything anyone 
says for granted.

Cheers
RicB



 > Let me see if I'm clear on this...the front edge of the notch has 
been crushed by humidity increases and decreases on this brand new 
Yamaha grand piano.   That is why when I tap the string it drops?   SIGH...
 >
 > David Ilvedson, RPT

Do you think the piano hasn't experienced a humidity change
since it was strung? Have you taken a string off of a brand
new bridge and checked it for visible damage? Have you taken
off the string next to it after you have seated it, and
inspected the bridge cap for damage? Have you tried just
fingernail pressure to minimize damage? I realize that you and
a whole lot of other techs will ever stop seating strings
(with recent Journal photo as evidence), but I had hoped that
after all the list discussion and demonstrations some would
have given it some consideration.
Ron N