<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <html> <head> <META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=us-ascii"> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 10 (filtered)"> <title>Message</title> <style>  </style> </head> <body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=blue> <div class=Section1> Are you asking why there aren’t pins at the capo bar (or agraffe)?  Part of the reason there are pins in the bridge is to keep the strings from moving sideways.  The relatively low bearing on the bridge (as compared with the counterbearing angle for the agraffes or capo bar) combined with the bridge surface’s natural lubricity would allow the strings to move side to side quite easily especially as the bridge moves up and down.  You don’t want that.  You might note, however, that on guitars and other stringed instruments, the strings are not locked into place with vertical pins at the bridge and they don’t seem to move.  Anyway, the same problem doesn’t exist at the capo or agraffe though leakage can occur where counterbearing angles are insufficient.    Changing lengths, btw, will not necessarily cause an increase in Inharmonicity, rather a difference between similar strings.  Also, bass string do exhibit a tolerance for different speaking lengths (and different winding lengths) without causing problems with Inharmonicity as evidenced by the number of pianos in which the bass bridge is not individually notched for each set of unisons.    Of course, I’m not sure if that’s what you are talking about.   <div> David Love davidlovepianos@comcast.net www.davidlovepianos.com </div> -----Original Message----- From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of Geoff Sykes Sent: Sunday, January 13, 2008 8:05 PM To: 'Pianotech List' Subject: RE: String termination question   <div> Wim -- </div> <div>   </div> <div> BUT... As I understand it, one of the important reasons for the X and Y axis to terminate at exactly the same point, (at the bridge), is that if one axis is different than the other then the string is essentially a different length in one axis than the other. This increases inharmonicity and causes conflicting partials in the two axis. This is a similar reason as to why the windings on bass strings must be the same length and end at the same distance from BOTH termination points. I understand that, among other things, equal termination at the bridge equates to maximum transfer of energy to the soundboard, but doesn't unequal termination at the agraffe or capo bar cause distortion in the string waveform that not only increases inharmonicity and unwanted conflicting partials but also a loss in overall energy? </div> <div>   </div> <div> I don't mean to start an argument. I'm really just interested in the mechanical logic of this centuries old manufacturing practice. For all I know the contribution of any errors at the agraffe or capo bar may be so insignificant as to be unworthy of consideration. I'm just curious. </div> <div>   </div> <div> -- Geoff Sykes, Los Angeles </div> <div>   </div> <div>   </div> <div>   </div> <div>   </div> <blockquote style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt'> -----Original Message----- From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of Willem Blees Sent: Sunday, January 13, 2008 7:22 PM To: pianotech@ptg.org Subject: Re: String termination question <div> Geoff </div> <div>   </div> <div> As Annie indicated, the string needs to go over the bridge for the vibrations to transfer from the string to the soundboard. The string needs to be seated at both sides of the bridge, so that the vibration is transferred without interference. If the string is not seated, then there will not be a solid transfer of the vibrating string.  See what happens when you start thinking. <img width=19 height=19 src="http://o.aolcdn.com/cdn.webmail.aol.com/33706/aol/en-us/images/aimex/cry.gif" alt=":" (? NOSEND=1> </div> <div> Willem (Wim) Blees, RPT Piano Tuner/Technician Honolulu, HI Author of The Business of Piano Tuning available from Potter Press www.pianotuning.com </div> -----Original Message----- From: Geoff Sykes <thetuner@ivories52.com> To: Pianotech@Ptg. Org <pianotech@ptg.org> Sent: Sun, 13 Jan 2008 3:42 pm Subject: String termination question <div id="AOLMsgPart_2_38a532cc-92b0-4bfd-a1c9-d8d0a04e3620"> <div> Greetings All -- </div> <div>   </div> <div> I made the mistake of thinking the other day, and I started wondering why piano strings are terminated at the bridge on both the X and Y axis but at the capo bar, or agraffe, on only the X, (or perhaps that's Y depending on how you are looking at it), axis. We go to lengths to make sure the strings are seated properly at the bridge so that there is a definite and precise termination in both planes at the bridge and bridge pin. Why then is the lack of termination in both planes not a problem at the agraffe and capo bar end? </div> <div>   </div> <div> -- Geoff Sykes, Los Angeles </div> </div>  <div> <div class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in; margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center'> <hr size=2 width="100%" align=center> </div> More new features than ever. Check out the new <a href="http://o.aolcdn.com/cdn.webmail.aol.com/mailtour/aol/en-us/text.htm?ncid=aolcmp00050000000003" target="_blank">AOL Mail</a>! </div> </blockquote> </div> </body> </html>