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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><EM>"...while maintaining stick tip pressure on
the soundboard panel bottom. Stretch the other end of the thread out to
the other end of the panel and measure downbearing - best done with a
wedge."<BR></EM></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>I should have mentioned, as you might be curious how one
would hold the ruler in one hand, the opposite thread end in the other and
still have an appendage available to use a wedge to measure crown. The best way
to do this that I have found is to have an opposing thumb surgically attached to
your nose - then all you need to do is wiggle your face up there and
measure!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Great for itchy noses also!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=5><STRONG>;-)</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Terry Farrell</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>P.S.: I'd post a picture, but it's too darn
embarrassing.......</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>----- Original Message ----- </FONT>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>From: "Farrell" <</FONT><A
href="mailto:mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com"><FONT face=Arial
size=2>mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com</FONT></A><FONT face=Arial
size=2>></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>To: "Pianotech List" <</FONT><A
href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org"><FONT face=Arial
size=2>pianotech@ptg.org</FONT></A><FONT face=Arial size=2>></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Sent: Saturday, August 04, 2007 1:06
PM</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Subject: Re: Baldwin SD-10 ruminations (long)
</FONT></DIV></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial><BR><FONT size=2></FONT></FONT></DIV><FONT face=Arial
size=2>> Hi Rob. I don't feel qualified to fully answer your questions, but I
do have <BR>> a couple observations that can help you proceed
forward.<BR>> <BR>> Being that you have crown measurements in the unloaded
state, I presume all <BR>> the strings have been removed from the piano - is
that correct?<BR>> <BR>> It would be helpful to have more crown
measurement of the soundboard. I know <BR>> access can be difficult up in the
treble, but the killer octave area and the <BR>> high treble is where you
really need good measurements - especially the <BR>> killer octave - as when
sound/tone is lacking in a piano, it is most often <BR>> up in these areas.
The belly rail underhang (is that a word?) under the <BR>> soundboard often
makes crown measuring difficult as you proceed toward the <BR>> treble end of
the soundboard. One can often get good measurements up there <BR>> by
attaching a thread around (really over) the tip of a stick - something <BR>>
like a wooden ruler - tape the thread to the bottom side of the stick - <BR>>
press the upper side of the thread end of the stick up against the <BR>>
soundboard panel between two ribs and push the stick over the belly rail
<BR>> until you hit the rim, all the while maintaining stick tip pressure on
the <BR>> soundboard panel bottom. Stretch the other end of the thread out to
the <BR>> other end of the panel and measure downbearing - best done with a
wedge.<BR>> <BR>> If the soundboard has no crown unloaded in the killer
octave area you may <BR>> need a new soundboard.<BR>> <BR>> Some years
ago when I used my first Lowell Downbearing Gauge, I initially <BR>> got more
erratic measurements than any that made any sense. I found that it <BR>>
really took quite a bit of practice to use it reliably. Your measurement do
<BR>> sound erratic - but of course, it may well be the piano that is
erratic, <BR>> rather than your downbearing measurement technique. A good
check on that is <BR>> to use a rocker gauge, or better, a digital angle
gauge - the angle gauge <BR>> really should roughly agree with your Lowell
measurements.<BR>> <BR>> If your Lowell measurements accurately reflect
downbearing in this piano, in <BR>> addition to perhaps adjusting plate
height, you appear to be needing some <BR>> bridge top height/angle
adjustment - perhaps a new bridge cap is in order so <BR>> downbearing can be
set optimally.<BR>> <BR>> If this piano does need a new soundboard, and
especially if the owner is <BR>> interested in top performance - and if so,
even if the old soundboard is <BR>> still "functional" - you might want to
talk to someone like Ron Nossaman or <BR>> Del Fandrich (Del is a lot closer
to you than anyone else) about doing some <BR>> redesign work and having a
rib-crowned soundboard system installed.<BR>> <BR>> A question that often
bounces around in my head when contemplating replacing <BR>> a 35 year old
soundboard that has failed, is whether it is the wisest choice <BR>> to
replace it with one of the same (or nearly so) design. And yes, I am <BR>>
clearly biased toward the benefits of rib-crowned belly systems in
pianos.<BR>> <BR>> Just a few things to think about.<BR>> <BR>>
Terry Farrell<BR>> Farrell Piano<BR>> <BR>> ----- Original Message
----- <BR>> From: <</FONT><A href="mailto:atonal@telusplanet.net"><FONT
face=Arial size=2>atonal@telusplanet.net</FONT></A><FONT face=Arial
size=2>><BR>> To: <</FONT><A href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org"><FONT
face=Arial size=2>pianotech@ptg.org</FONT></A><FONT face=Arial
size=2>><BR>> Sent: Saturday, August 04, 2007 10:37 AM<BR>> Subject:
Baldwin SD-10 ruminations (long)<BR>> <BR>> <BR>>> Greetings
all,<BR>>><BR>>> It's been quite a while since I've posted, although
I sporadically check <BR>>> the list and I'm<BR>>> pleased to see
the new techs along with some old-timers (mind you, 10 <BR>>> years
is<BR>>> forever for a internet listserve).<BR>>><BR>>>
Today's project is a 1972 Baldwin SD-10. We have acquired this piano from
<BR>>> a local<BR>>> church that has changed venues and traded the
piano on other musical <BR>>> equipment.<BR>>><BR>>> Condition
of the piano is beaten. Over the years, top treble restringing <BR>>> has
ocurred,<BR>>> hammers have been extensively hardened, critters have taken
up residence <BR>>> in it for<BR>>> a time mauling the damper felt,
and overall tone and power are bright and <BR>>>
weak.<BR>>><BR>>> Leaving aside action considerations for a moment,
I am now in the analysis <BR>>> phase of<BR>>> the soundboard and
downbearing. The board is free from separations, and I <BR>>>
have<BR>>> found no change in crown measurements from the loaded state
(4-6 mm in <BR>>> central<BR>>> sections of the board) to unloaded.
I am getting the same crown <BR>>> measurements with<BR>>> the
strings off as with them on.<BR>>><BR>>> Bearing analysis shows some
whacky results. Using my newly-acquired Lowell<BR>>> Composite Bearing
Gauge (shout out to Piano Tek!) The front bearing is <BR>>>
nicely<BR>>> positive in the top two sections, zero to negative in the
tenor and mid <BR>>> sections, and<BR>>> back to decently positive
in the bass. Back bearing shows the opposite, <BR>>> negative
in<BR>>> the top 2, positive in the centre and tenor, and positive in the
bass. <BR>>> Now, the Accu-<BR>>> Just pins won't be able to cure
all of the back bearing problems, as they <BR>>> are at the<BR>>>
bottom of the pin on the top two sections (the re-strung ones) and the
<BR>>> rear bearing is<BR>>> still negative! Judging by feel, I
can't discern any bridge roll or <BR>>> rippling/cracking of
the<BR>>> soundboard at the bridge. So now I have to decide of I can
change the <BR>>> plate height to<BR>>> correct these bearing
problems, or if a new soundboard is in order.<BR>>><BR>>> Having
mulled this over for the past week, the problems boil down to
this:<BR>>><BR>>> Lowering the plate will increase front bearing in
the centre where needed, <BR>>> but also<BR>>> severely increase the
front bearing in the top, which is currently nicely <BR>>>
positive.<BR>>> Lowering the plate will also allow me to increase rear
bearing in the top <BR>>> treble and<BR>>> allow the Accu-Just pins
to be set properly. The tenor and bass Accu-Just <BR>>> pins
were<BR>>> near the top of the pin, and bearing was positive. If I keep
the existing <BR>>> board, I will<BR>>> have to cant the plate,
lowering the front (more on the bass side) and <BR>>> bringing
down<BR>>> the rear on the treble side, if
possible.<BR>>><BR>>> As much as I'd like to pack the whole thing
off to Bolduc for a new board <BR>>> and<BR>>> bridges, I have to
make my business case to the powers that be (i.e. he <BR>>> who
writes<BR>>> the cheques.)<BR>>><BR>>> Still in the analysis
phase currently, anyone with experience in resetting <BR>>>
threaded<BR>>> plate systems please chime in.<BR>>><BR>>>
Regards,<BR>>><BR>>> Rob Kiddell RPT<BR>>> Edmonton,
Canada<BR>>> </FONT><A href="mailto:atonal@telusplanet.net"><FONT
face=Arial size=2>atonal@telusplanet.net</FONT></A><BR><FONT face=Arial
size=2>>><BR>>> <BR>> <BR>></FONT></BODY></HTML>