<HTML style="FONT-SIZE: medium; FONT-FAMILY: AGaramond Bold"><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=windows-1251"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1522" name=GENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY> <P> <DIV>Stephen asked: "<FONT size=+0>What is the "official" rationale for splaying the strings within a </FONT> <DIV><FONT size=+0>trichord at the bridge? or is it one of those little bits of piano </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>folklore that keeps propagating because it's assumed to be "necessary </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>because we've always done it"? It's done even on straight-strung </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>stringbands, as much as to the point of having all strings the same </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>separation at the bridge, like you see on some over-strung pianos.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>What dire consequence might result from keeping strings parallel </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>within a trichord? And have these consequences actually been </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>confirmed experimentally or by supposition?"</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>Stephen,</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3>The only reason that I've been able to come up with is to"spread" the hitch pins, so that they are not so close to each other, which might exaserbate a possible crack in the plate. After all, drilling holes in a casting does weaken it and if the hitch pins are all in a very symectrical fashion and close together, it could cause plate failure. (Or so I surmise.)</FONT></DIV></DIV> <DIV>Regards,</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Joe Garrett, R.P.T. (Oregon)</DIV> <DIV>Captain, Tool Police</DIV> <DIV>Squares R I</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <P></P></BODY></HTML>