<HTML style="FONT-SIZE: x-small; FONT-FAMILY: MS Sans Serif"><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1400" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV>Joe,</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Yup, I'm with you all the way.  I definitely want to do a full scale evaluation.  As I stated, the only question I have is, what pitch was the piano originally designed for?  You state 435.  Reasons?  My limited info indicates manufacturers and musicians were all over the map at that time.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>thanks</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid"> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt Arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV> <DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A title=joegarrett@earthlink.net href="mailto:joegarrett@earthlink.net">Joe Garrett</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> 11/12/2004 6:11:52 AM </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: 1883 Bechstein upright scale</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV><FONT size=2> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Michael Spalding asked: "<FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>I would appreciate any insights you might have regarding what pitch it would have been designed for.  I've found brief mention of standards adopted in 1885 in Vienna (435) and London (455), however C. Bechstein was in Berlin.  I would like to evaluate and improve on the scale - obviously got to know what pitch to tune it to when I'm done.  The existing strings and pins appear uniformly old, but I wouldn't want to assume they're original.  <BR><BR>thanks for any info on pitch / tension<BR><BR>Mike<FONT face=Arial size=2>,</FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I'm probably repeating myself, but this is the reason to do a full scale evaluation! First, you enter all of the scale data in a program that will allow you to set the pitch standard at whatever you want it at. For that piano, I would use 435cps. Once you have entered all of the data, then you reset the program to 440cps. (Of course you printed a copy of the original scale @ 435cps. Taking note of the tensions, rescale the instrument to A=440cps. Along the way, improving on the scale and taking into account the manufacturability of current string winders. Once you do this then you have the NEW scale, that will not over-stress the intended overall tensions and a sweet instrument that can be tuned to A=440cps. Simple, huh?[G]</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>If you are not so inclined to do that, send me the data and I can do it for you.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Best Regards,<BR></DIV></FONT> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Joe Garrett, R.P.T.<BR>Captain, Tool Police<BR>Squares R I</FONT></DIV></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>