<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:st1="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" 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 11 (filtered medium)"> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PostalCode"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="State"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PersonName"/>  <style>  </style> </head> <body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple> <div class=Section1> You should tell her that you can make it better, but you can’t make it sound like a 9 foot.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Del Fandrich talks about improving the sound on small grands with a couple of tricks, neither for the faint hearted. First you rescale the bass, positioning the bass bridge as far forward as the plate will allow. You are trying to eliminate the apron and increase the backscale length. <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Del</st1:place></st1:State> has empirically proven that aprons absorb all the lower frequencies of the strings leaving nothing to go into the soundboard. When ordering the strings specify the very short Jolly Loop. Or better yet, replace the hitch pins with vertical pins that have a little grove cut around the top. The groove allows the string to pivot more freely up and down as the string oscillates.  Make sure you use high quality bass strings- I recommend Arledge. <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> The second thing you can do is “float” the soundboard. This involves making a cut through the soundboard in the tail area and reinforcing the cut edge. Alternatively, you can router a groove around the perimeter of the soundboard in that area. Search the archives for more info here. <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> I would recommend you hire <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Del</st1:place></st1:State> as a consultant if you want to pursue either avenue: <a href="mailto:fandrich@pianobuilders.com">fandrich@pianobuilders.com</a><o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <div> Dean<o:p></o:p> <u1:PersonName u2:st="on">Dean May</u1:PersonName>             cell 812.239.3359 <o:p></o:p> PianoRebuilders.com   812.235.5272 <o:p></o:p> <u1:place u2:st="on"><u1:City u2:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Terre Haute</st1:City></u1:City> <u1:State u2:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">IN</u1:State></st1:State>  <u1:PostalCode u2:st="on"><st1:PostalCode w:st="on">47802</u1:PostalCode></st1:PostalCode></st1:place></u1:place><o:p></o:p> </div> <div> <div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'> <hr size=2 width="100%" align=center tabindex=-1> </div> From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of Brian Doepke Sent: Friday, October 12, 2007 8:53 PM To: '<st1:PersonName w:st="on">Pianotech List</st1:PersonName>' Subject: 1920's Wurli Grand<o:p></o:p> </div> <o:p> </o:p> I have a client who, several years ago, bought a 1920’s Wurli Grand off of e-bay.  I have been working on it regularly, tuning every 6 months so it is now up to A440. I have also reshaped the hammers.  There are a couple slight cracks in the soundboard.  The keys are “sloppy” compared to status of what they should be.  I am sure that many of you have run into a similar instrument.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> The client now wants to talk about what can be done to bring back the “big, rich sound” of a grand.  She wants to discuss string replacement as a way of getting her “grand sound”.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Is this even worthwhile?  I am afraid of doing the restringing only to have the sound fall short of what the client wants.   Should I consider the saying “Even if you put a dress and make-up on a pig…it’s still a pig.”?<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Brian P. Doepke, (dep-kee)<o:p></o:p> R.P.T. (Registered Piano Technician)<o:p></o:p> AAA Piano Works, Inc.<o:p></o:p> Piano Tuning-Repair-Purchase Consults<o:p></o:p> 260.417.1298<o:p></o:p> 260.432.2043<o:p></o:p>     www.aaapianoworks.com<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> </div> </body> </html>