<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"> <head> <meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 12 (filtered medium)"> <style>  </style>  </head> <body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple> <div class=Section1> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Mike:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Since my reply to you kind of got this sad thread going, let me say I have indeed done this procedure in the past.  I have heard the improvement in sound and seen the strings move.  Depending on how the light is hitting the string the move can be quite impressive.  <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>I was a hero once on a lady’s Baldwin L when I made the sound more solid, and heard the false beats diminish.  A week later when the unfocused sound returned and the false beats were again prominent I started to investigate what was really happening.  Bearing on this piano was marginal causing the bad sounds.  My knocking the strings down on the bridge made the leading edge of the bridge even worse than it had been (I really didn’t hit it very hard, but steel strings are somewhat harder than maple).  Since that time (30-years ago) I’ve resisted the temptation to be a hero for a week.  <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>If you feel you’re helping the piano and not damaging the bridge I’m all for you.  I wouldn’t have responded to your post at all had it not been for your 2lb. hammer comment.  Since I had only done this with a brass drift tapped by a small pair of needle nose pliers the 2lb. hammer just jumped off the screen.  My original question was if that were a typo and you really meant a 2oz hammer.  I see I should have left what I thought was a typo alone.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>dave<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; color:#1F497D'>David M. Porritt, RPT<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; color:#1F497D'><a href="dporritt@smu.edu"><span style='color:blue'>dporritt@smu.edu</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'> <p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Michael Magness<br> <b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, September 25, 2007 10:24 AM<br> <b>To:</b> Pianotech List<br> <b>Subject:</b> Re: Re; New Use For Goose's String Leveling Tool/Old News To me<o:p></o:p></span></p> </div> <p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></p> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><span class=gmailquote>On 9/25/07, <b>Ron Nossaman</b> <<a href="mailto:rnossaman@cox.net">rnossaman@cox.net</a>> wrote:</span> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class=MsoNormal><br> <br> > I have to admit that I had my doubts about this technique as well,<br> > however I have always held the view that I will keep an open mind <br> > whenever possible regarding a new technique or method until I have the<br> > opportunity to prove or disprove it for myself. I saw and experinced<br> > solid results from it, now if you haven't from pushing down on the <br> > string with your finger(thereby contaminating it with skin oils and<br> > salts and acids)perhaps you should try something a little more substantive!<br> ><br> > At the very least try opening your minds to the POSSIBILITY that there <br> > is something to it.<br> <br> This is hardly a new technique. I know what there is to it,<br> thanks. Been there many years ago. As to some of the other<br> things I've since learned about seating strings, there are a <br> couple of week's reading, multiple times, in the archives.<br> Help yourself. Meanwhile, an open mind also requires<br> entertaining the possibility that someone who doesn't<br> immediately embrace your suggestion might have reasons for not <br> doing so.<br> <br> <br> > Oh and by the way Ron a sledge hammer weighs, traditionally 10 or 20<br> > pounds and has a handle at least 20 inches in length. So my little 2<br> > pound hammer with it's 14 inch handle doesn't begin to qualify <br> <br> It does for seating strings, as far as I'm concerned.<br> Ron N<o:p></o:p></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><br> I have no problem with someone who does not "embrace my suggestion having a reason for not doing so" .<o:p></o:p></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal>I only disagreed with those who misunderstood, condemned it without trying it, or made snide comments instead of stating reasoned comments based on experience. <o:p></o:p></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal>I will say it again it does work I have seen and experienced it work, I have not seen ANY bridge damage as a result of it. So those of you who say it does not or that it damages bridges are effectively telling me, apparantly the only one who has used this technique, that I should not believe the evidence I have seen and heard with my own eyes and ears. I should instead listen to your theories and suppositions of what will happen, since none of you have attempted it!!!!!  <o:p></o:p></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal>I also never presented this as a NEW technique but simply one I have been using for a number of years after learning it from Paul who I'm certain presented it at the chapter meeting.<o:p></o:p></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal>Apparantly there are 2 schools of thought at work here that I was unaware of when I originally posted. One school doesn't believe that strings hang-up on the bridge pins and therefor there is no need for string seating. The other believes it does happen but has various favored methods for seating and feel the one I outlined to be too extreme. <br clear=all> <o:p></o:p></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal>I'm sorry I stepped into this hornet's nest in the first place. I have spent 2 days defending something I have NEVER had a problem with, no grooves or indentations in the bridge face, no pinholes elongated, no cracks in the bridgecap. What I have resulted in is cleaner sound, more stable pianos, less false beating and pleased customers. <o:p></o:p></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal>So for the last time and as my last word on the subject I will say one more time, if you aren't willing to try it don't attack it since you have no grounds for your comments. <o:p></o:p></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal>Commentary without actually attempting it will only be as effective as whistling in the wind!<o:p></o:p></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal>Mike<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 href="http://www.IFixPianos.com">www.IFixPianos.com</a><br> email <a href="mailto:mike@ifixpianos.com">mike@ifixpianos.com</a> <o:p></o:p></p> </div> </div> </body> </html>