Smoothing out the tenor bass break on a Steinway M

[David Love]

Adding mass slows down soundboard response (movement) in that immediate
area.  Less movement, less volume at attack.  That boom sound you hear at
the bottom of the tenor bridge can be reduced.  Adding a longer extension to
the tenor bridge will accomplish the same thing.  Often some loading or a
longer extension is required at the top end of the bass bridge for the same
reasons.  Modifying the scaling so that the tensions don't take a leap when
they change from plain wire to wrapped (as they do for the last two unisons
on the M) will also help as will a complete bridge redesign which adds a
transition bridge for the notes that are part of the dogleg.  

David Love
davidlovepianos at comcast.net 
www.davidlovepianos.com

-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Steve Blasyak
Sent: Tuesday, April 10, 2007 8:37 AM
To: Pianotech List
Subject: RE: Smoothing out the tenor bass break on a Steinway M

Hey Now,

Interesting photos. So can you please explain what does "mass loading" do
to improve the break? Or maybe better put, how does it work? 

Thanks in advance from one of the dumb kids.

Steve 

Orange County Ca.

Pura Vida


> [Original Message]
> From: David Love <davidlovepianos at comcast.net>
> To: Pianotech List <pianotech at ptg.org>
> Date: 4/9/2007 5:14:13 PM
> Subject: Smoothing out the tenor bass break on a Steinway M
>
> Here's one way smooth out that tenor bass break on a Steinway M.  The
first
> photo shows mass loading at the end of the tenor bridge.  A small hole was
> drilled in the extension to receive a screw.  A portion of the brass
weights
> needed to be ground off to miss the plate to allow seating on the small
> bridge extension.  Attaching from underneath is more difficult because of
> the postion of the bracing directly below.  The second photo shows
slightly
> less mass loading at the end of the bass bridge where there was more
access
> from underneath.  Restringing the bass would have helped a bit too but
> wasn't in the cards for this particular piano.  All are easily removeable
> should you have the need.  
>
> David Love