<div> </div> <div>Below are copies of 3 posts from today, the first from RicB I found to be a reasoned well thought response to what I had to say and I thank him for it. The 2nd from Ed Sutton equally reasoned and well thought I wish to thank him as well. The 3rd from Ron Nossaman who finally admitted to having tried it and went on to explain where I could find more about it in greater detail as a good teacher would, (I talked to Conrad H. and he told me you're a good man Ron), so I want to thank him for doing so. </div> <div>I presume the rest of you, in your own way were trying to tell me the same things, however I don't respond well to attack dog style teaching methods. Those of you who prefer that style could learn a thing or two from Ric, Ed and Ron. </div> <div> </div> <div>I will apologize for being new to the list and not knowing this was such a touchy subject. If I feel strongly about something I won't shy away from it just because others disagree however if it's been discussed at length already and I have nothing to add but stirring up tempers I see nothing to be gained. </div> <div> </div> <div>So I will allow my post to die away while I do my reading on the subject as suggested by Ron.  </div> <div> </div> <div> </div> <div> </div> <div>Mike</div> <div> </div> <div>I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work. - Thomas Edison</div> <div> </div> <div>************************************************************************************************************************<br clear="all">Hi again..<br><br>Just a couple more thoughts.  In all fairness I would like to point <br>out that one of the most respected techs in all of Europe, and a<br>fellow that Steinway Hamburg relies on very heavily for some of their <br>most critical work is of like mind (by all reports I get)to our new<br>friend Mike. Mike by no means stands alone in this thinking, nor does <br>the teacher he referes to with so much respect.<br><br>I'd also point out that this procedure was one I ran into very early <br>on and used for several years before some of the guys and gals at<br>Sherman Clay in Seattle pointed out to me that perhaps I might think <br>about a few of the consequences that perhaps might not be so<br>desirable that result from this procedure. <br><br>Then came the Nossaman thinking along in my own life... which took<br>things to the far extreme on the other side.... yet there was a good <br>deal about his reasoning I found and still do quite compelling.<br><br>My own nature is to seek middle ground... because usually thats where<br>truth lies nearest.  So after quite a bit of pondering I wrote the<br>article that appeared in the journal a couple years back which pretty <br>clearly sums up the problem and what the controversy is all about.  I <br>left it up to each reader to decide whether a string could be<br>unseated in the face of positive downbearing.<br><br>The initiative I took in starting this post... was the discovery of a <br>very clear and extremely easy way of proving to oneself that that <br>last mentioned can indeed occur.  In which case strings actually do<br>need seating.<br><br>That said, whatever seating procedure that is used should not be of <br>character that creates an indentation in the bridge that lies below <br>the strings line of deflection.  I'll leave it up to the individual<br>to judge whether or not ones own methods and means do or dont.<br><br> Cheers<br>RicB<br>************************************************************************************************************************* </div> <div bgcolor="#ffffff"> <div><font face="Arial" size="2">Mike-</font></div> <div><font face="Arial" size="2"></font> </div> <div><font face="Arial" size="2">"String seating," using some kind of tapping or pressing has been a commonly taught procedure for many years, both by individuals teachers and major manufacturers' representatives. </font></div> <div><font face="Arial" size="2"></font> </div> <div><font face="Arial" size="2">More recently, in particular due to a better understanding of the effects of humidity on the bridge cap, technicians are beginning to ask if the temporary improvement causes greater long term damage. </font></div> <div><font face="Arial" size="2"></font> </div> <div><font face="Arial" size="2">Thus, opinions are in a state of change about this.  You will find both views being taught by fine teachers, and you'll hear tempers flare.</font></div> <div><font face="Arial" size="2"></font> </div> <div><font face="Arial" size="2">Ed Sutton</font></div></div> <div>******************************************************************************************************************************<br> </div> <div> </div> <div> </div> <div>  <div style="DIRECTION: ltr">I have tried it, as I expect most of us have at one time or<br>another. Some of us have made an effort to understand what is<br>actually happening when strings are seated, and spent way too<br> much time describing and discussing the phenomenon on list<br>with way too many people who weren't interested in trying to<br>understand what they believed they saw. It's all there in the<br>archives, in excruciating detail, if you're interested. If <br>you're not, I'm not about to waste any more time trying to<br>explain it to you.<br> </div> <div style="DIRECTION: ltr"><span><br><br>> Never become so much of an expert that you stop gaining expertise. View<br>> life as a continuous learning experience.<br>> - Denis Waitley<br><br></span></div> <div style="DIRECTION: ltr">Denis is getting more strident with each  repetition too,<br>incidentally.<br>Ron N<br> </div><br>I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work. -Thomas Edison<br><br> <br><br>Michael Magness<br>Magness Piano Service<br>608-786-4404 <br><a onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)" href="http://www.ifixpianos.com/" target="_blank">www.IFixPianos.com</a> <br>email <a onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)" href="mailto:mike@ifixpianos.com" target="_blank"> mike@ifixpianos.com</a> </div>