<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1" http-equiv=Content-Type> <META name=GENERATOR content="MSHTML 8.00.6001.19088"> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial> <DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Hi,</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>For the past several years I have been maintaining a </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>1931 S&S B for our local community concert association.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>When I took over the responsibilities the instrument was stored in a plywood box on a stage where temps during the summer reached well over 100 degrees and in the winter under 35. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>The instrument is now in a much better place at our local community college.</FONT></DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial> <DIV><BR>I remember tightening the plate bolts ( or trying )  with a</DIV> <DIV>small 6 inch crescent wrench.  All bolts would not budge, so I thought every thing was fine. </DIV> <DIV>A new set of hammers and wips were installed to replace worn out hammers that were filed down to the under felt on the top octave and end the need to treat each year with GJ for the dreaded V.</DIV> <DIV>Though the new hammers did bring some life back to the sound The sustain and projection of the instrument was not  as great a change for the better as I had hoped.</DIV> <DIV>5 second sustain on C5.</DIV> <DIV>Its twin S&S B that was rebuilt 15 years ago Has a sustain of</DIV> <DIV>8 </DIV> <DIV>So we had something to compare.</DIV> <DIV>We have called in the local S&S tech as a consult who thought it a voicing issue.</DIV> <DIV>But this opinionated hard head still said the pluck test doesn't give a good sustain how can the hammer do it?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Cut to the chase:</DIV> <DIV>We tightened the bolts  with a socket. Crown is back in the mid section where it was flat.</DIV> <DIV>Sustain 8 seconds!</DIV> <DIV> Quick questions</DIV> <DIV>The bolts are a 3/4" head and the low bass 1/16" larger</DIV> <DIV>How tight can I go.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Can the tenor and treble nose bolts be adjusted up to gain more crown? They are the style that has a tuning hammer shape. The bass has a cover cap</DIV> <DIV></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Joe Goss BSMusEd MMusEd RPT<BR><A href="">imatunr@srvinet.com</A><BR><A href="">www.mothergoosetools.com</A></FONT></DIV></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial><A href="http://www.mothergoosetools.com">.</A></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>