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<div>Dave,</div>
<div> </div>
<div>A year or so ago I, too, observed that there seems to be an unusually large proportion of bass <SPAN class=correction id="">players</SPAN> among piano technicians and asked for a hand count. About twenty or so participants on this list responded in the affirmative for bass per <SPAN class=correction id="">se</SPAN> and <SPAN class=correction id="">other</SPAN> low end instruments (tuba, etc.). I know that there are also some other well-known <SPAN class=correction id="">techs</SPAN> not on this list who are also bass players. What does it mean?</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Alan <SPAN class=correction id="">Eder</SPAN></div>
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<br>
-----Original Message-----<br>
From: algiers_piano@bellsouth.net<br>
To: pianotech@ptg.org<br>
Sent: Fri, 15 Dec 2006 4:18 AM<br>
Subject: Re: Wood Upper Bridges <SPAN class=correction id="">aka</SPAN> "Nut"<br>
<br>
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<div class=AOLPlainTextBody id=AOLMsgPart_0_05ece526-5ec1-4e08-9931-3e76cf793458>Joe, boy did you bring back memories. 20+ years ago I put a big heavy brass bridge on a <SPAN class=correction id="">Hagstrom</SPAN> bass with similar results, less than a year later I got one of the very first G&<SPAN class=correction id="">Ls</SPAN> and wished I still had the original <SPAN class=correction id="">Hagstrom</SPAN> tone as a change up. Which raises the interesting question of how many piano tuners have some bass playing connection, it seems to be a surprisingly high percentage. <br>
<br>
I totally agree that different is not always bad, <SPAN class=correction id="">Im</SPAN> reworking a straight strung <SPAN class=correction id="">Erard</SPAN> at the moment, have worked on many pre 1900 instruments, the oldest a 1790s <SPAN class=correction id="">Broadwood</SPAN> square, and I firmly believe you should respect what you find in them. If you <SPAN class=correction id="">dont</SPAN> like what they were doing back then, there are plenty of <SPAN class=correction id="">Lesters</SPAN>, <SPAN class=correction id="">Aeolians</SPAN>, <SPAN class=correction id="">Brambachs</SPAN> from the modern era you are welcome to redesign and improve to your hearts content. Just my humble 2ยข. <br>
<br>
---Dave <br>
New Orleans <br>
<br>
<br>
On 12/14/06, Joseph Garrett quoth: <br>
<br>
>Don said: "I feel that there is also a negative impact on <br>
>the tone of having such a soft termination as a <br>
>wood bridge at both ends of the strings, as with <br>
>your <SPAN class=correction id="">Bl</SPAN>?<SPAN class=correction id="">thner</SPAN>. At least, it would be negative to <br>
>me, but then perhaps a more muted tone quality <br>
>with shorter sustain in the high partials (which <br>
>can seem to enhance the fundamental) was the intention of the designer." <br>
> <br>
>Don, <br>
> I <SPAN class=correction id="">dunno</SPAN> if it could be considered "..a negative impact on the tone...." <br>
>One major instance that comes to mind is my <SPAN class=correction id="">olde</SPAN> <SPAN class=correction id="">Hagstrom</SPAN> Bass Guitar. It <br>
>came with a wood lower bridge and <SPAN class=correction id="">phenolic</SPAN> nut. The tone was very <br>
>distinctive. At the time that I needed a bass with more "bite", I modified <br>
>it by putting a brass bridge and an Elk horn nut. The tone was a totally <br>
>different thing. More "bite" and the harmonics were less subdued. <br>
>As I work on a lot of really <SPAN class=correction id="">olde</SPAN> <SPAN class=correction id="">pianer</SPAN> <SPAN class=correction id="">thingees</SPAN>, I've noticed that the <br>
>pianos with a wooden Nut, have a completely different sound. I choo<SPAN class=correction id="">se</SPAN> to <br>
>think that this was a preferred sound <SPAN class=correction id="">pre-1900</SPAN>. I guess what I'm trying to <br>
>say, is that the sound will be different but not necessarily "bad" ....just <br>
>different. <br>
>I don't think that a reversal of tone preference is anything that will <br>
>occur,...but....it is interesting to say the least <br>
>Regards, <br>
> <br>
>Joseph Garrett, R.P.T. <br>
>Captain, Tool Police <br>
>Squares R I <br>
<br>
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