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<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>"I too believe that at least some of
the high-end manufacturers didn't choose to use hockey-stick bridges because
they wanted to save on a few extra bass strings."</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>IMHO, not that I don't think most manufacturers are
looking to cut costs, but I think the main reason you don't see more notes on
the bass bridge is strictly marketing - a smaller bridge with fewer wound
strings looks sexier and looks more like a concert grand. I have to agree that
some small pianos - like the Baldwin micro grand that Del had a hand in - that
have several octaves on the bass bridge have a "clunky" look to them - I don't
think they look nearly as sexy as a piano with a smaller bass section - BUT THEY
SOUND MUCH BETTER! I think the salesperson can sell a small piano with a small
bass bridge more easily because they can point out to the shopper that "this
piano is scaled after the famous concert grand, etc., etc."</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Terry Farrell</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN class=549575321-23012007>This
is a very interesting explanation. I too believe that at least some of
the high-end manufacturers didn't choose to use hockey-stick bridges because
they wanted to save on a few extra bass strings.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=549575321-23012007>Just look at a pre-war Bechstein piano and you'll see
that the attention to detail and workmanship is very good.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=549575321-23012007>It is possible that it was thought as a way of better
blending the scale transition to bass strings, especially given the ideas
regarding the way bridges work, and where they should be placed, which existed
at the time.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=549575321-23012007>They might have also had reasons related to less
developed string winding techniques etc.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=549575321-23012007></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=549575321-23012007>The ends of the bridges were never Bechstein's strong
points in my opinion. Most of their models have some weakness at the break, in
the lowest bass or highest treble. But when you play a decent old Bechstein
(as opposed to checking individual notes and stuff) you seldom are disturbed
by problems at the break. I'm not saying they aren't there, just that they are
not obvious during playing.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=549575321-23012007></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=549575321-23012007>What Bechstein achieved better than most (in their
older pianos) is the crystalline singing quality of the tenor and treble
range, which is rarely surpassed. And don't forget that it's there where most
of the music gets played. </SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=549575321-23012007></SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2><SPAN class=549575321-23012007></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=549575321-23012007>I hope that Ron Overs was able to retian that
special Bechstein tone in his rebuild. Please keep sending pictures and
maybe a recording when the piano is finished.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=549575321-23012007></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=549575321-23012007><!-- Converted from text/plain format -->
<P><FONT size=2>Calin
Tantareanu</FONT></P></SPAN></FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>