Steinway B tenor conversion report

[Porritt, David]

Terry:

I've not yet put wrapped strings on the treble bridge of a B but last
year I did have James Arledge make a better bass scale for one.  Among
other things he put in 7 double wrapped unisons and altered the tension
(this player was breaking bass strings too frequently).  It made a much
improved sound.  There is - of course - still a bass/treble transition
that is noticeable but not as bad.

dave

_______________________
David M. Porritt, RPT
dporritt at smu.edu

-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On
Behalf Of Farrell
Sent: Monday, August 20, 2007 8:54 AM
To: Pianotech List
Subject: Re: Steinway B tenor conversion report

Keeping with this approach of utilizing the original long bridge and
bass 
bridge, let's say in a case where the piano will be restrung - or at
least 
the bass will be restrung, is there a potential for further improvement
if 
you were to rescale the bass. What I am asking is did you have to go
through 
scaling contortions to rescale those four notes compared to if you were 
rescaling the four notes PLUS the entire bass section?

Of course, best improvement is complete new scale, new bridges, moved 
bridges and a transition bridge.

I've done something similar to what you have done, only on smaller
pianos 
will very good results (and of course, smaller pianos with BIGGER
transition 
problems have the potential for more improvement!). But each time I have

done that I have also had the entire piano rescaled (including the
bass). I 
just wondered how much utilization of the original bass scale might
restrict 
your scale design work on those four low tenor notes.

Terry Farrell

----- Original Message -----
>> Am I correct to understand that a transition bridge was NOT added to
the 
>> belly system - i.e. four plain-wire tricords were converted to wound 
>> bicords on the original long bridge and the original bass
scale/strings 
>> were kept?
>
> Yes you are, exactly.
>
>
>> Sounds like great results for a minimal/easy-to-do upgrade. Good show

>> guys.
>>
>> Terry Farrell
>
> Still not exactly a fix, but a definite improvement.
> Ron N
>