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<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Much is said, written, etc. about the modern =
grand piano
belly rail and making it stiff to provide a solid foundation to attach =
the
soundboard to. Two problems with the modern belly rail as I see it: =
First, it is
straight - a curve of similar cross section is always going to =
be more
stiff; and second, it is usually cut into three lengthwise pieces =
to
accommodate that half-centipede-looking contraption referred to as the =
damper
underlever system.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>I have seen on some old grand pianos (pre-1850) =
an
over-damper system - I seem to recall a Chickering (or was it a =
Broadwood -
I think it had a plaque on it saying how Lizst played the piano at one =
time) at
a convention a few years ago that had an over-damper system, i.e. the =
dampers
and damper lever system were mounted above the strings, thus =
ridding the
action cavity of all that volume-demanding damper under-lever =
gobbly-gook.
I don't know how the dampers were activated on that piano, but I guess =
all you
would need would be some type of a simple, =
no-volume-required straight
wire, much like you find in the big monster American square grands =
of the
1860s -1880s. If fact, one can use the square damper system to envision =
an
improved modern grand over-damper system. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Is there any fundamental reason an over-damper =
system
would be inferior to what we currently see on the modern grand? As I =
imagine it,
you could model an over-damper system from the square and even add =
an
additional pivot where the damper head attaches to the arm/lever - that =
way the
damper would always be self-adjusting every time it goes back down on =
the
strings - I should think the potential exists for =
longer-lasting improved
damping. And hey, one could even service the darn thing without crawling =
into
the action cavity.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Hopefully someone will help me think this thing =
through -
sure didn't get much sleep last night...... ;-)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Terry Farrell</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>