<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <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=ProgId content=Word.Document> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 10"> <meta name=Originator content="Microsoft Word 10"> <link rel=File-List href="cid:filelist.xml@01C5EB52.89F493C0"> <o:SmartTagType = namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PlaceType"/> <o:SmartTagType = namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PlaceName"/> <o:SmartTagType = namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="date"/> <o:SmartTagType = namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"/>  <style>  </style>  </head> <body bgcolor=white lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=blue = style='tab-interval:.5in'> <div class=Section1> >> So I am = concerned as to what to do from here.  Repair further or just chuck the piano = and forget it.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <o:p> </o:p> What area of the country are you = in? I suspect you need to find a technician comfortable with CA glue repair = techniques. I’d bet $100 that treating the bridge pins, bridge to soundboard joints and = aprons, ribs, and rim would solve the noise, if it is coming from the piano. = Total average cost should be $100 to $300. <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Else, if you are contemplating new, = just get your Sohmer rebuilt. They are fabulous = pianos. You’ll end up with a nicer sounding piano as you have already discovered. = <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Tell us what city you are near and = perhaps there is a tech on the list who could do this = for you.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <div> Dean<o:p></o:p></fon= t> Dean May       &nbs= p;     cell 812.239.3359<o:p></o:p> PianoRebuilders.co= m   = 812.235.5272<o:p></o:p> Terre Haute = IN  = 47802<o:p></o:p> </div> <o:p> </o:p> -----Original = Message----- From: = pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of newdaymoore@bellsouth.net Sent: Thursday, November = 17, 2005 8:14 AM To: = spalding48@earthlink.net; Pianotech Subject: Re: Hairline = cracks in Treble Bridge <o:p> </o:p> <div> Yesterday I did answer but = I put my answer down in the text where your questions are and did my answers in a = blue font.  But when it posted it just put the font in black and blended = it so you cannot tell my answers from your questions.  So here is the = answers again in the beginning of the email.  SORRY<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> The gentleman who tuned = also did the repairs.  Repairs done were:  1 set damper felts, 1 set bridle straps, a hammer, a thorough cleaning inside, new key bed, a tuning and = 2 ivory keys tops.  I bought the piano from a lady who claims the piano has = been in her family since it was new.  Handed down from generation to = generation.  Her son played it and was going to keep it but didn't have room in his = house for it. So he went with a digital.  The thing that is bothering me = is the techniciam who has done the tuning and repairs is the one who checked it = out before I bought it from her and said the repairs listed above were all = it needed and would be good for another generation, with tunings as = needed.  He came and did the cleaning and removed the part that has the hammers = and took it with him, then returned and put the piano back together, finished the repairs and tuned.  As soon as he left the one key began making = this annoying sound.  He came back and discovered a few hairline cracks = in the upper treble bridge.  He said when he checked out the piano at the = lady's house he did overlook the bass and treble bridge.    I = bought the piano from the lady for $230.  I bought it for my teenage = daughter and myself.  I took lessons for years as a child and my daughter wants = to learn.  The piano was delivered by a piano mover on 10-04-2005, and = the technician came out for the second time on 10-13-2005 to bring back the = part he took with the hammers and put the piano back together and tuned = it.  We played the piano before he came out to work on it and we have been = playing on  it daily since the repairs.  When he came out the third = time to figure out the noise he put a sponge wedge in  between the strings = and it does absorb the abnormal sound in the F key  (F5).  So I am = concerned as to what to do from here.  Repair further or just chuck the piano = and forget it.  I don't know if my husband will allow me to get = another piano after this experience.  I will check out the web site listed = below and see if there are any technicians in my area.  I would like = a second opinion.  I went yesterday to a Steinway store.  I tell = you either I have weird ears and really can't distinguish good sound or this = old 1890 Sohmer has got a far better sound.  Those steinways sound = small and faint. My Sohmer sound is BIG and deep.   They also had a = Boston there that I played on and one of the keys wouldn't play.  She said = it was the humidity that was causing the hammer to stick, that Boston was a new piano.  I couldn't believe it.  They will only give me $700.00 = for a trade in.<o:p></o:p> </div> <blockquote style='border:none;border-left:solid black = 1.5pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 4.0pt; margin-left:3.75pt;margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt'= > <div> ----- Original Message = ----- <o:p></o:p> </div> <div style='font-color:black'> From:</span= > <a href="mailto:spalding48@earthlink.net" = title="spalding48@earthlink.net">Michael Spalding</a> <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> To:<= /font> <a href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org" = title="pianotech@ptg.org">Pianotech</a> <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> Sent:</span= > Wednesday, November 16, 2005 2:38 PM<o:p></o:p> </div> <div> Subject:</s= pan> RE: Hairline cracks in Treble Bridge<o:p></o:p> </div> <div> <o:p> </o:p> </div> <div> <div> Dear = Newdaymoore,<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> When a single = note develops a noise following tuning, it usually indicates a sympathetic vibration.  Tuning that note has (perhaps) altered its pitch to = bring it in tune with whatever is resonating, and also increased its energy = output by tuning all 3 strings of the unison to vibrate at the same = frequency.  It might be a normal part of the piano (caster, hinge, etc.), a damaged = part of the piano (separated rib-soundboard joint) or something else in the room (picture frame, curios on glass shelf, etc.).   IMHO it's = highly unlikely that hairline cracks in another part of the bridge are related = to your noise.<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> However, you've = got bigger issues:  "I have recently put $523 = worth of repairs into this piano.  I am wondering if I should even do the = treble bridge repair...<o:p></o:p> </div> <div> Facts you've = provided:   You are a piano owner, not a technician (that's OK), your piano is 115 = years old (that's at least 2 piano lifetimes), and you've had it tuned by = someone who does not do repairs.<o:p></o:p> </div> <div> Facts that would = help us help you better:  How long have you had the piano, who plays the piano = and why, what restorative work has been done to the piano, either by you ($523) = or previous owners.  What are your goals for the piano (or its = replacement), what is your budget.<o:p></o:p> </div> <div> The odds are = against a 115-year-old piano holding up better than a new one, unless you plan to = spend more thatn the cost of a new one on restoration.  The truth is, all = pianos require regular maintenance, and without it they "don't hold = up".<o:p></o:p> </div> <div> You ought to = consider having a piano technician who is knowledgeable/skilled in repairs and rebuilding evaluate your piano and present some options.  It will = cost some money just to get the evaluation, but in the long run could save = you a bundle.  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> Find a technician = here:  <a href="http://www.ptg.org/findATechnician.php?PHPSESSID=6cb955a538d074= 1f2597f0e6259fe9a8">http://www.ptg.org/findATechnician.php?PHPSESSID=6c= b955a538d0741f2597f0e6259fe9a8</a><o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> hope this = helps<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> Mike<o:p></o:p> </div> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <blockquote style='border:none;border-left:solid black = 1.5pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 4.0pt; margin-left:3.75pt;margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'> <div> ----- Original Message = ----- <o:p></o:p> </div> <div style='font-color:black'> From:</span= > <a href="mailto:newdaymoore@bellsouth.net" = title="newdaymoore@bellsouth.net"></a><o:p></o:p> </div> <div> To: = <a href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org" = title="pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</a><o:p></o:p></font= > </div> <div> Sent:</span= > <st1:date Month="11" Day="16" Year="2005">11/16/2005</st1:date> = 11:48:55 AM <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> Subject:</s= pan> Hairline cracks in <st1:place><st1:PlaceName>Treble</st1:Pl= aceName> = <st1:PlaceType>Bridge</st1:Pl= aceType></st1:place><o:p></o:p></p= > </div> <div> <o:p> </o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> I have an 1890 Sohmer = Upright (55").  After having it tuned I started hearing an = annoying vibrating sound out of the F Key above middle C.  My tuner came back out to investigate and found some hairline cracks in the upper = part of the treble bridge.  He called a few people whom he trusts for = bridge rebuilding.  His plan was to remove the half of the treble = bridge with the cracks and send it off to be used as a model to rebuild a = new one and put the new one in for me.  But everyone was booked well into = next year.  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> So he found out about a = gentleman who does Epoxy repair.  He himself has never done this type of = repair with epoxy but after speaking with this man and watching his video he = feels confident that he can repair the hairline cracks with epoxy.  I am = wanting to know the pros and cons to doing such a repair.  Can you also = tell me the pros and cons to removing the half of the treble bridge = with the hairline cracks and sending it away to be used as a model to build a new half and putting in a new half bridge in = instead. <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> I have recently put $523 = worth of repairs into this piano.  I am wondering if I should even do the = treble bridge repair and if so which way to go.  The tone in this piano = sounds really great to me and my daughter.  I hear so many bad things = about newer pianos not holding up well.  So could any of you advise me on this matter.  I am concerned about the epoxy method causing any problems = with the tone and sound.  Plus will the pins be glued in?  Would = that cause problems later on?<o:p></o:p> </div> <div> Thanks.<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> </blockquote> </blockquote> </div> </body> </html>