[pianotech] string scale

[Joseph Garrett]

Dean,
I would say that is part of "rescaling". There are those who do a whole
heckofa lot more and they still call it a Steinaha or whatever. I think
that is stretching it a bit, but I know that it is their intent to make it
a whole lot more of a piano than what it was originally. The one given,
that is difficult to alter, is the plate. It is the one parameter that we
have to deal with. The rest: soundboards/ribs/rim etc, is all changeable. 
Just Evaluating a Scale and making minor corrections that are dictated by
anomolies of the bridges, etc. is merely Scale Improvement to me.
What would you call it?<G>l
Best,
Joe


> [Original Message]
> From: Dean May <deanmay at pianorebuilders.com>
> To: <joegarrett at earthlink.net>; <pianotech at ptg.org>
> Date: 1/7/2012 2:48:43 PM
> Subject: RE: [pianotech] string scale
>
> So what would be rescaling? Moving the bridges as well?
>
> Dean
>
> Dean W May (812) 235-5272 voice and text
>
> PianoRebuilders.com (888) DEAN-MAY
>
> Terre Haute IN 47802
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On
Behalf
> Of Joseph Garrett
> Sent: Saturday, January 07, 2012 5:42 PM
> To: pianotech
> Subject: Re: [pianotech] string scale
>
> Matthew asked: "Does anyone know where I can find (or happen to have)?a
> string scale for an Ivers & Pond 1924 Grand, Scale 73?? It is not in the
> "Guide to Stringing" by Travis.? Any help appreciated, thanks so much!"
>  
> Matthew, (with 2 t's<G>)
> Sigh. This question just keeps coming back to the surface. It assumes that
> what is in the book, etc. is correct! My experience says different.
> The best way to do it, is to take all the measurements of the existing
> speaking lengths and all the wire sizes. The most important part is to
take
> the BASS measurements. This is the main thing that is wrong with the
travis
> book. It only addresses the plain wire part of the scale! THEN, techs just
> send the bass strings off to who knows and assume that the scale was the
> best that it can be and the string maker is going to duplicate them
> ....exactly. Too many wrong assumptions to even think about in one
> sentence! 
> I strongly urge all to do the"math" or do all the measurements and send
the
> data to someone, like myself, that will analyze the existing scale and
then
> make the changes to give the optimum. If you are computer literate you can
> do this. Ya really don't have to be some kind of math whiz kid!<G> The
> formulae are available to all. Most techs make a spread sheet for this.
> There are two ready made programs, out there, that will get you up and
> running faster. They are from Mark Gallant, Assoc., Portland Chapter or
> Tremaine Parsons, R.P.T., Sacramento Chapter. 
> Yes, it takes a goodly amount of time to do all of this, but if you are
> "re..whatevering", you need to have this skill!! Otherwise, leave the
> "re..whatevering" to those that can/do.<G>
> BTW, this is NOT RESCALING! (oooohhh the dreaded word!<G>) This is simply
> taking given data, knowing the basic intent of the designer, eliminating
> factory snafus and making it optimum for the given perameters available.
> Once you've done this it's a must forever more.
> Best Regards,
> Joe
>
>
> Joe Garrett, R.P.T.
> Captain of the Tool Police
> Squares R I