<html> Hi Phil,               Since you are re stringing,  a fast improvement, is to replace the bridge pins, using epoxy as a driving fluid, Re surfacing the existing bridge, to clean up the string indentations, plus cleaning up the notches at the same time. Increasing the bearing by recapping, on an old piano like this may create more problems, than it will cure. Is it possible to lower the plate a tad, to get the desired effect?  Could be an effective option. This quality of piano is not worth the effort of recapping in my book, unless you want to get some practice in re capping.  Just my opinion. regards Roger At 07:40 AM 12/14/01 -0500, you wrote: >Hello all. > >I was at a customer's home yesterday who is interested in doing some work >(re-whatever) to her Howard 4'10" Grand. > >It needs work. Let's put it this way..the only thing it doesn't need is a >new plate and soundboard (in my opinion). > >As I was inspecting it, I noticed very little downbearing on the >tenor/treble bridge. There was better downbearing on the bass bridge. >Sustain at C6 was 7-8 seconds, and I count 1onethousand, 2onethousand, etc. >I thought that was pretty good for a little guy/girl! I couldn't get a good >feel for sustain on the bass bridge, because the wire is approaching the >color black, but I was enthused to find what I would consider good sustain >at C6. > >So what's the question? > >I have good sustain on the tenor/treble bridge with minimal >downbearing(using a rocker gauge), and there's better downbearing on the >bass bridge, but getting something resembling a tone is somewhat futile. > >From what I said, would this piano benefit from having a new cap applied to >the bridges? My thought is giving the paino as much downbearing as possible >with what appears to be a soundboard that has crown left, with a slight >re-scaling of the bass wire and some fresh felt on the hammer shanks, I >think this piano would be a pretty good one for what it is. > >Would re-capping the bridges bring that much better tone and >sustain..and..for what reasons do you all re-cap bridges for in the first >place? > >Always a curious roo(k), >Phil > </html>