Ebony bridge caps

[David Love]

There is one other observation that gives rise to a question I have about
marginally different caps and different sounds.  On many, if not most, of
the boxwood capped pianos it is only the capo section that is done that way.
The tenor section is maple.  If there were a 30% difference in both power
and sustain, wouldn't you expect that there would be a noticeably different
quality of sound across the break?  I'm not hearing those differences.  

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 Ron Nossaman
Sent: Friday, June 08, 2007 9:01 AM
To: Pianotech List
Subject: Re: Ebony bridge caps



> I'm not certain in "which way" you mean that they don't seem copromised, 
> but I'd like to make a general observation about bridges here.  I have 
> only my limited experience to share, and what I've been told by others 
> about this subject.  I have 3 identical pianos (same size, same scale, 
> same board thickness, same ribbing, same bracing, same rim structure, 
> same belly rail, same type of hammers, etc.) with 3 different types of 
> bridges.  One has a solid maple bridge, no cap, one has a vertically 
> laminated body of maple and mahogany with hardwood caps, and one has a 
> vertically laminated body of maple, ebony, and mahogany with hardwood 
> caps.  I understand that the characteristics of the wood of the board, 
> ribs, differnces in hammers even with the same manufacturer and same 
> model,, etc.  However, the difference in sound between these pianos is 
> gargantuous, far exceeding any differences caused by the differences of 
> the boards or hammers.  The solid bridge is the least efficient.  Nice 
> warm sound, ok duration, but no power.  The 2nd has around 30% more of 
> both, and the 3rd yet another 30%.  Apparently something is going on 
> between the string and the soundboard which is causing a marked 
> difference in the sound of the pianos.  I'm thinking it's the bridges. 

A reasonable conclusion. It likely *is* the bridges. What do 
the three different bridges weigh, do you suppose, and how 
does the MOE of the three compare?
Ron N