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<DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#000040 size=3><STRONG> =
List</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#000040 size=3><STRONG> &=
nbsp; I wanted to pick your brains so here it is. </STRONG></FONT=
></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#000040 size=3><STRONG> &=
nbsp; Last week I took in a large 54' 1903 Schaff Bros. upright for re=
storation. It has a beautiful Victorian style case an intact & legitimat=
e soundboard. Among the usual things it will also get a complete set of brid=
ge caps. The bass bridge has the half moon shaped bridge mounted on the usua=
l apron & the bridge body itself has a vertical crack thru to the apron =
that was repaired by installing several screws. </STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#000040 size=3><STRONG> &=
nbsp; Since I need to do extensive repairs anyway I'm considering buil=
ding a solid bridge & attaching it to the board where the apron is curre=
ntly joined. The current string lengths on note 1 is a very long 51&=
; 1/2 "& note 28 is 41 & 1/2". If I relocate the bridge It will=
be shortening those strings by 2&1/2" on note 1. & 3 &=
; 1/2" on note 28. The new length will be 49'& 38 & 1/2" respe=
ctively. Still long strings. Because of the half moon shape the longer=
strings will become even sorter especially if I use a straight bridge which=
, would be simpler. The middle& longer strings would be shorten by as mu=
ch as 5."</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#000040 size=3> &=
nbsp; I'm looking for feedback from others who have done this or have an ide=
a about it. A prime consideration for me is, will this improve or inhib=
it damping? How will it improve the sound? From what others have said just a=
ttaching it to directly to the board will improve mechanical efficiency=
. No argument there,</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#000040 size=3> &=
nbsp; In most uprights the dampers best location would be where the ha=
mmers hit the strings but obviously they can't be there. Also I don't want t=
o end up with the damper on some nodal point that creates some harmonic that=
I can't resolve. In fact perhaps this is why the strings on most uprights a=
re so long perhaps to mitigate that effect. I don't know. Will shortening th=
e string push the optimal damping point even further up the string towards t=
he tuning pins? That to me would be bad.</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#000040 size=3> =
Interestingly and for sake of comparison a Mason A Bass note 1 & 26=
is approx. 49" & 36" Which is close to where a modified lengt=
h will be on the upright. Also the tenor string lengths are fairly comp=
arable in both pianos.</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#000040> <FONT=
size=3><STRONG>Any insights will be of course be appreciated & as alw=
ays stimulating & helpful.</STRONG></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#000040 size=3> &=
nbsp; Thanks in advance--Dale Erwin</FONT></STRONG></DIV></BODY></HTML>