<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.3132" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><EM>"Is there a preferred downbearing angle?"</EM></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial>Absolutely! The proper angle is the angle which produces the best piano sound!</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial>So much depends on the type of soundboard (compression-crowned, rib-crowned or hybrid - age and condition of board - existing crown - etc.). So no definitive answer with data provided. The best thing to do is to get a recommendation from someone who works with the same type of situation you are facing.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial>Terry Farrell</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>----- Original Message ----- </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>>    I have been contemplating the Wixey digital angle guage that Terry <BR>> showed pictures of (attached to the Lowell Guage base).  I bought one of <BR>> these this afternoon, and was wondering:  Is there a preferred downbearing <BR>> angle?  I am working on a Baldwin R, the plate has been refinished.  You can <BR>> still see where the aliquot bars went, kind of, but I was wondering if I <BR>> could use the guage to tweak the downbearing by moving the aliquots?   I <BR>> know ideally that the bearing would be equal, front and rear, but ideal this <BR>> may not be.  So, is there an ideal angle that you all shoot for?<BR>>    I think that this is not the intent of the aliquots, but couldn't I move <BR>> them around to accomplish some slight bearing changes?  Input requested!!<BR>> Clark A. Sprague, RPT <BR>> <BR>></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>