<br><br> <div><span class="gmail_quote">On 9/24/07, <b class="gmail_sendername">William R. Monroe</b> <<a onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)" href="mailto:pianotech@a440piano.net" target="_blank">pianotech@a440piano.net </a>> wrote:</span> <blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="PADDING-LEFT: 1ex; MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0.8ex; BORDER-LEFT: #ccc 1px solid"> <div bgcolor="#ffffff"> <div><font face="Bookman Old Style" size="2">Likewise Michael,</font></div> <div><font face="Bookman Old Style" size="2"></font> </div> <div><font face="Bookman Old Style" size="2">Just because a technician has 50 yrs. experience does not validate any technique that tech espouses. </font></div> <div><font face="Bookman Old Style" size="2">If there is one argument that will very quickly get me rolling my eyes and asking questions like, "hmmm, is this technique valid?" is the argument that so and so learned this technique from some RPT, RTT, whatever, who has been working in the field for 97 years as a tech.. </font></div> <div><font face="Bookman Old Style" size="2"></font> </div> <div><font face="Bookman Old Style" size="2">Techniques change, education must be continually upgraded, even in this field, our understandings of processes (hopefully) grows.  Lots of techs seated strings willy-nilly for lots of years, citing the improvement in tone/stability, but never bothered to look at the leading edge (or center, for that matter) of the bridge for string indentations - damage. </font></div> <div><font face="Bookman Old Style" size="2"></font> </div> <div><font face="Bookman Old Style" size="2">And yes, I agree with others that a 2lb hammer used to seat strings - anywhere on the string - is excessive and potentially damaging.  No one jumped to conclusions Michael.  When you seat the string, applying force at any point on the string you wish, you are seating the string on the bridge.  The idea was not rejected out of hand due to a misunderstanding, it was rejected because, many feel that the method you describe is excessive, even seating advocates like Ric B.  ;-]  </font></div> <div><font face="Bookman Old Style" size="2"></font> </div> <div><font face="Bookman Old Style" size="2">I also think that the converse is important - we should not simply accept something out of hand, because someone said we should, without due diligence.</font></div> <div><font face="Bookman Old Style" size="2"></font> </div> <div><font face="Bookman Old Style" size="2">William R. Monroe</font></div> <div><font face="Bookman Old Style" size="2"></font> </div> <div><font face="Bookman Old Style" size="2"></font> </div> <div><font face="Bookman Old Style" size="2"></font><br><font face="Bookman Old Style" size="2">Michael wrote:</font></div> <blockquote dir="ltr" style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><span> <div><font color="#ff0000">"I use a 2 lb. hammer and place it either side of the bridge on the string and strike gently(wearing safety glasses)"  </font></div> <div><font color="#000000">I did not, at any point say or suggest placing it ON the bridge, that was a conclusion jumped to by those reading the post who, obviously did not read carefully. I may not have been crystal clear about how far either side of the bridge I place it. However when I saw David's confusion I immediately posted a clarification. I am disappointed that David would assume this was what I meant since I feel only a very uninformed individual would seat strings in the manner he assumed I was advocating. I took pains to explain the credentials of the individual I learned it from, an RPT of some 50+ years experience. To reject it out of hand due to misunderstanding what he read is not the sort of behavior I've come to expect from those on the list. </font></div> <div><font color="#000000"></font> </div> <div><font color="#000000">It was my understanding( I never assume) that those reading these posts would read and retain ALL of the post, not just select portions that supported their assumptions or unproven theories.</font>  </div> <div>In plain language, if you haven't tried it, don't knock it!!</div> <div> </div> <div><font face="Bookman Old Style" size="2"></font> </div></span><span> <div>Mike <br>Never become so much of an expert that you stop gaining expertise. View life as a continuous learning experience. <br>- Denis Waitley<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></span></blockquote></div></blockquote></div> <div>As for William R Monroe,</div> <div> </div> <div>Again I must point out, you must not have read the original post in it's entirety. I stated; He was/is an excellent technician, rebuilder and teacher. </div> <div>He has been rebuilding grands for 50+ years and has only recently stopped due to health concerns. If this technique were the cause of bridge problems, he would be the first to know it and not only stop doing it but decry it's use by anyone else! He was the one who told me about the key bushing tightener(swedge)and the damage it does to a key, he had one years ago but once he saw what it did he threw it away. Yes the same one that is still sold by Schaff! </div> <div>I pointed out in the original post that he had seen film of an Asian factory where this was the practice, he saw that film at a PTG seminar, that was about 15 years ago not 50 or 97 as you sarcastically state. He was asked by 2 different manufacturers to go to work for them over the years but turned them down. He rebuilt grands from a 3 state region, never advertised, not even a yellow pages listing, always had more work than he wanted and a months long backlog. He rebuilt for universities, churches and private customers from 100's of miles away all through word of mouth. Despite having that kind of workload he always made time to go to seminars, conventions as well as the monthly chapter meetings and he always had time for all of the new people coming into the business. Yes he was/is my mentor and I admire him greatly but I have also seen things that I disagree with him about so I am not blind to his faults. He was always interested in anything new he could learn about piano work and imparted that ethic to me. He always said to be very wary of those who seemingly know it all, for it is they who have stopped learning! </div> <div> </div> <div> <div><font face="Bookman Old Style" size="2">William Monroe said; And yes, I agree with others that a 2lb hammer used to seat strings - anywhere on the string - is excessive and potentially damaging.  No one jumped to conclusions Michael.  When you seat the string, applying force at any point on the string you wish, you are seating the string on the bridge.  The idea was not rejected out of hand due to a misunderstanding, it was rejected because, many feel that the method you describe is excessive, even seating advocates like Ric B.  ;-]  </font></div> <div><font face="Bookman Old Style" size="2"></font> </div> <div><font face="Bookman Old Style" size="2">I also think that the converse is important - we should not simply accept something out of hand, because someone said we should, without due diligence.</font></div></div> <div> </div> <div>So I ask you Ric, William, anyone else that has something on the order of the open mind I see exhibited in William's letter. Does that diligence mean lip service or putting it to the test and actually trying it? After all if you aren't going to ACCEPT something out of hand then conversely you shouldn't REJECT something out of hand either, right? If the 2 lb. hammer is too much for you use any weight hammer you wish, I used to use a fiberglass mallet maybe 6 or 8 oz., rather lightweight and had to strike a little harder with it but it worked. </div> <div> </div> <div>It's like many things, it sounds foreign and strange when you read a description of it, when you see it done or actually do it yourself and can see the results for yourself and the lack of bridge damage, you may find yourself with a new technique in your arsenal or at least less apt to rush to judgment about the next new and different one you read about! </div> <div> </div> <div> </div> <div>Mike<br clear="all"><br>-- <br>Never become so much of an expert that you stop gaining expertise. View life as a continuous learning experience. <br>- Denis Waitley<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>