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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: =
black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=Richard.Brekne@grieg.uib.no
href="mailto:Richard.Brekne@grieg.uib.no">Richard Brekne</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A =
title=pianotech@ptg.org
href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">Pianotech</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> February 05, 2003 11:59 =
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: Henry Herz Belly =
Brace
JPG</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>My best guess as to the reverse of the usual case orientation is =
to angle
the strings such to maximize string length while minimizing case size =
and
keeping a non overstrung scale. That in itself seems actually quite
reasonable. </DIV></BLOCKQUOTE>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080>And Henry =
Herz is not the
only one to try it. I wrote an estimate on rebuilding a Mathucheck 9 ft
(approximately) grand a few years back built somewhat along the same =
lines. At
least in terms of case shape. The plate and soundboard configuration =
were some
more conventional. But the rim shape looked like it had simply been =
turned
over.</FONT></DIV>
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color=#000080></FONT> </DIV>
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<P>Why the soundboard should be turned upside down tho is probably an =
entirely
different matter. Aside from perhaps the desire to have the hammers =
deflect
the strings upwards against the bridge instead of away from the bridge =
I cant
guess. The amount of bearing needed might be slightly reduced =
because of
this... at least if you subscribe to the idea that bearing is needed =
at least
in part, to help hold the strings tight against the bridge.
</P></BLOCKQUOTE>
<P dir=ltr><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080>You're =
probably right. A
hundred or so years back that was considered to be an issue. (The =
hammers
deflecting the strings toward the soundboard, that is.)</FONT>
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<P>Does it sound / perform better then other configurations ??.... :) =
Actually
it has a really nice sound considering its age and condition. I think =
we are
going to put a low pitch tuning on it and record a few tunes on it, =
and if we
do I can post it.
<P>The awkward to tune part I am not so sure about. I will find out =
soon
enough, but as long as there is reasonable rendering, wouldnt the =
upside down
pinblock be just a matter of getting used to it?</P></BLOCKQUOTE>
<P dir=ltr><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080>I was thinking =
mainly of the
need to hold the tuning hammer up against the pins rather constantly. At =
least
the rows of pins are labeled and more-or-less easily seen. Unlike the =
Baldwin
ElectroPianos....</FONT>
<P dir=ltr><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080>Have =
fun,</FONT>
<P dir=ltr><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" =
color=#000080>Del</FONT></P></BODY></HTML>