[pianotech] Downbearing

[Will Truitt]

Hi Ron:

As the practical man we all know you to be (and I think it is of real value
for you to occasionally bring us out of the clouds with your nuts and bolts
perspective, thank you very much!), what steps do you take in practice to
insure that the front and back bearing angles are roughly equal?  Since you
are usually installing a new soundboard (and presumably a new pinblock),
where in the combined processes do you make adjustments that will at least
get you roughly in the ballpark of where you want to be?

Will Truitt 

-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Ron Nossaman
Sent: Sunday, November 23, 2008 7:11 AM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Downbearing


> Not for measuring net bearing.  But I guess I'd like an idea what the 
> components are. The plane of the bridge cap, and where bearing goes 
> front and back of that seems relevant.  Am I in left field?
>  
> William R. Monroe


Yes, it "seems" relevant, but I'm not so sure it's nearly the 
practical concern we try to make of it. I try to have the 
angles front and back roughly equal, but I haven't seen 
anything through the years indicating that it's particularly 
important for either tone or longevity. In the end, net 
bearing determines soundboard loading.

Ron N