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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: =
black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=spalding48@earthlink.net
href="mailto:spalding48@earthlink.net">Michael Spalding</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A =
title=pianotech@ptg.org
href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">Pianotech</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, November 16, =
2005 2:38
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> RE: Hairline cracks in =
Treble
Bridge</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV>Dear Newdaymoore,</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>When a single note develops a noise following tuning, it usually
indicates a sympathetic vibration. Tuning that note has =
(perhaps)
altered its pitch to bring it in tune with whatever is resonating, and =
also
increased its energy output by tuning all 3 strings of the unison to =
vibrate
at the same frequency. It might be a normal part of the piano =
(caster,
hinge, etc.), a damaged part of the piano (separated rib-soundboard =
joint) or
something else in the room (picture frame, curios on glass shelf,
etc.). IMHO it's highly unlikely that hairline cracks in =
another
part of the bridge are related to your noise.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>However, you've got bigger issues: "<FONT face=Arial>I =
have
recently put $523 worth of repairs into this piano. I am =
wondering if I
should even do the treble bridge repair...</FONT></DIV>
<DIV>Facts you've provided: You are a piano owner, not a
technician (that's OK), your piano is 115 years old (that's at least 2 =
piano
lifetimes), and you've had it tuned by someone who does not do =
repairs.
<FONT color=#0000ff>The gentleman who tuned also did the =
repairs.
Repairs done were: 1 set damper felts, 1set bridle straps, 1 hammer, 1 =
thorough cleaning inside, 1 new key bed, 1 tuning and 2 ivory =
key
tops. I bought the piano from a lady who claims the piano has =
been in
her family since it was new. Handed down from generation to
generation. Her son played it and was going to keep it but =
decided on a
new digital. The thing that is bothering me is the technician =
who has
done the tuning and repairs is the one who checked it out before =
I bought
it from her and said the repairs listed above were all it needed and =
would be
good for another generation. He came and did the cleaning and =
removed
the part that has the hammers and took it with him, then returned and =
put the
piano back together, finished the repairs and tuned. As soon as =
he left
the one key began vibrating with an annoying noise. He came back =
and
discovered a few hairline cracks in the upper treble bridge. He =
said
when he checked out the piano at the lady's house he did overlook the =
bass and
treble bridges. I bought the piano from the lady for $230.00 and =
I
bought it for my teenage daughter and myself. I took lessons for =
years
as a child and my daughter wants to learn. The piano was =
delivered by a
piano mover on 10-04-2005, and the technician came out for the second =
time on
10-13-2005 to bring back the part he took with the hammers. We =
played
the piano before he came out to tune and repair and we have been =
playing on it
daily since the repairs. When he came out the third time to =
figure out
the noise he put a sponge wedge in between the strings that do help =
absorb the
abnormal sound in the F key above middle C. So I am concerned as =
to what to do from here. Repair further or just chuck the =
piano
and forget it. My husband will not allow me to get another after =
this
experience. I will chech out the website listed below and see if =
any are
in my area. I would like a second opinion. No human is
perfect. Thanks</FONT></DIV>
<DIV>Facts that would help us help you better: How long have you =
had the
piano, who plays the piano and why, what restorative work has been =
done to the
piano, either by you ($523) or previous owners. What are your =
goals for
the piano (or its replacement), what is your budget.</DIV>
<DIV>The odds are against a 115-year-old piano holding up better than =
a new
one, unless you plan to spend more thatn the cost of a new one on
restoration. The truth is, all pianos require regular =
maintenance, and
without it they "don't hold up".</DIV>
<DIV>You ought to consider having a piano technician who is
knowledgeable/skilled in repairs and rebuilding evaluate your piano =
and
present some options. It will cost some money just to get the
evaluation, but in the long run could save you a bundle. </DIV>
<DIV>Find a technician here: <A
=
href="http://www.ptg.org/findATechnician.php?PHPSESSID=6cb955a538d074=
1f2597f0e6259fe9a8">http://www.ptg.org/findATechnician.php?PHPSESSID=6c=
b955a538d0741f2597f0e6259fe9a8</A></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>hope this helps</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Mike</DIV>
<DIV></DIV></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; =
BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt Arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: =
black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=newdaymoore@bellsouth.net
href="mailto:newdaymoore@bellsouth.net"></A></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To: </B><A =
title=pianotech@ptg.org
href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> 11/16/2005 11:48:55 AM =
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Hairline cracks in =
Treble
Bridge</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV><FONT size=2>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I have an 1890 Sohmer Upright =
(55").
After having it tuned I started hearing an annoying vibrating =
sound out
of the F Key above middle C. My tuner came back out to
investigate and found some hairline cracks in the upper part of the =
treble
bridge. He called a few people whom he trusts for bridge
rebuilding. His plan was to remove the half of the treble =
bridge
with the cracks and send it off to be used as a model =
to rebuild a new
one and put the new one in for me. But everyone was booked =
well into
next year. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>So he found out about a gentleman =
who does
Epoxy repair. He himself has never done this type of repair =
with
epoxy but after speaking with this man and watching his video =
he feels
confident that he can repair the hairline cracks with epoxy. I =
am
wanting to know the pros and cons to doing such a repair. Can =
you also
tell me the pros and cons to removing the half of =
the treble
bridge with the hairline cracks and sending it away to be used as a =
model to
build a new half and putting in a new half bridge in
instead.</FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I have recently put $523 worth of =
repairs into
this piano. I am wondering if I should even do the treble =
bridge
repair and if so which way to go. The tone in this piano =
sounds really
great to me and my daughter. I hear so many bad things about =
newer
pianos not holding up well. So could any of you advise me on =
this
matter. I am concerned about the epoxy method causing any =
problems
with the tone and sound. Plus will the pins be glued in? =
Would
that cause problems later on?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Thanks.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>