1) The wedge. Yes, the wedge will inhibit soundboard movement. However, it appears to be so close to the end of the rib that I doubt it makes any difference. If you can take it out easily, do so. 2) The ribs. I can only assume this was an attempt to ease the transition between the full-height rib and the feather. Good idea but this isn't how it's done. If you've ever attended any of my classes on soundboard function you've seen how I feather ribs. I carry the feather back about one-third of the length of the ribs on each end. In this case I can't see enough change in the shape of the rib to accomplish much of anything other than demonstrate rather crude workmanship. If you feel compelled to do anything about this you might sand them smooth, clean them up and brush some lacquer on the raw wood parts. 3) Who knows what the technician was trying to accomplish. Perhaps the original owner had some strange ideas about action touchweight. I've encountered a couple of technicians over the years who thought it acceptable to add weights to hammers. Generally this was done in an attempt to increase power. Don't know that it actually does that but it does change the voice. The added mass causes the hammers to remain in contact with the strings a little longer and dampens down some of the higher partials. Whether or not that is a good thing is, I suppose, in the ear of the beholder. The only time I thought such weighting was useful was on a Steinway D that had new (factory) hammers that would have been more suitable on a Model S. Without the weights the keys--with their original factory key leading--was in the low 40 gr range. Considerably lower than the owner wanted. But, having already paid one technician a bunch of money to have the hammers put on didn't want to pay another a bunch more money to have them taken off and appropriately-sized hammers installed. At least not right away. Nor did he like the feel of the action with a couple of keyleads removed. So the hammers got leaded enough to bring their mass up to about 10 gr or so in the bass and tapering down in the tenor. ddf Delwin D Fandrich Piano Design & Fabrication 6939 Foothill Court SW, Olympia, Washington 98512 USA Phone 360.515.0119 Cell 360.388.6525 del at fandrichpiano.com ddfandrich at gmail.com -----Original Message----- From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Paul Milesi Sent: Tuesday, November 15, 2011 10:11 PM To: PTG Pianotech List Subject: [pianotech] Hammer Molding Leads, Rib Alterations & Belly Rail/Rib Wedge Now, while servicing the Life Saver system, I saw that the ends of all ribs had been "modified" (chiseled?) near the rim. I also discovered a wedge made of pinblock material under a rib at the belly rail towards the bass. Isn't this inhibiting soundboard movement? Should I remove it? What is all this about? Are all these things attempts to improve tone, sustain, or what? On a new piano of this quality/pedigree, these modifications baffle me. Also, not fully/specifically disclosed to customer. Paul Milesi RPT Washington DC (202) 246-3136 Cell/Text paul at pmpiano.com http://www.pmpiano.com
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