<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; = charset=iso-8859-1"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1264" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#d8d0c8> <DIV><FONT face=Arial>Hello Stéphane,</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial>I strongly suggest that you make accurate = measurements of downbearing - front and rear - at at least three points in each section = of the scale (perhaps more in the troublesome high treble) with a bubble-type downbearing gauge. Then also stretch a string across the bottom of the soundboard between and parallel to each rib and accurately = characterize the soundboard shape. I have a 1900 Bechstein model A1 in my shop that has a = horribly weak treble - it has tons of rear bearing and negative front = bearing and the soundboard has an "S" shape to it parallel to the ribs. IMHO, = until the above is done, it is very difficult to make any reasonable conclusions = regarding the benefits of soundboard replacement in solving a short sustain in the = treble.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial>If all or some of the above is "bad", then that = MIGHT be the source of your trouble. I all above is "good", then one should look elsewhere for the cause of the short sustain.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial>Terry Farrell</FONT></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; = BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV> <DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: = black"><B>From:</B> <A title=collin.s@skynet.be = href="mailto:collin.s@skynet.be">Stéphane Collin</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> Tuesday, November 04, = 2003 4:33 AM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: short = trebble</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hello Michael.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Yes, I meant varnish on the top of = the bridges.  From previous comments, it appears that the cosmetic = and sealing layer of varnish, even on the top of the bridge, should have = little or no effect on the sustain of the notes, which I verified by scraping = that varnish from the top of the bridge, and ascertaining that there was no = better sustain.  But not all agree with this statement, and still, me too, have hard time understanding why there is no acoustic = difference between with or without a coat of varnish.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Any other idea about how to improve = sustain ? (I checked for downbearing at front and rear of the bridge, checked for = lose joints between the soundboard and the rim, checked for loose pins in = the bridge.  I was suggested to replace the soundboard, which I was = about to do, and asked a quote at the Bechstein factory (anyway, FAR too = expensive) and the guy there told me he wouldn't do that, pretending they can't beat = the quality of those old soundboards (but this is another = thread).)</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Stéphane Collin (B)</FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>