<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML style="FONT-SIZE: x-small; FONT-FAMILY: MS Sans Serif"><HEAD>
<META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; =
charset=us-ascii">
<META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.2523" name=GENERATOR>
<STYLE></STYLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgColor=#ffffff>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080 =
size=3></FONT> </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr
style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000080 2px =
solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader dir=ltr align=left><FONT =
face=Tahoma
size=2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B> =
pianotech-bounces@ptg.org
[mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org]<B>On Behalf Of </B>Michael
Spalding<BR><B>Sent:</B> January 25, 2005 7:41 AM<BR><B>To:</B>
Pianotech<BR><B>Subject:</B> RE: String Spacing on =
Bridge<BR><BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV>Terry,</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=140124116-25012005><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" =
color=#000080
size=3> (1) </FONT></SPAN>For a given piano length, =
lessening the
string spacing would shorten the low tenor strings. Not a =
positive
change in most piano scales. <SPAN =
class=140124116-25012005><FONT
face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080 =
size=3> (2) </FONT></SPAN>Also,
the heavier low tenor wires put a higher side force on the bridge =
pins
due to their stiffness, so larger pins and wider spacing would reduce =
the
bridge's tendency to crack. <SPAN =
class=140124116-25012005><FONT
face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080 size=3> (3) =
</FONT></SPAN>Bad grain
orientation aside (Knabe) most bridge cracking occurs around the =
closely
spaced small pins in the high treble, or on the bass bridge where =
string
tensions are greatest. I could imagine that these factors were
discovered during the transition from parallel-strung to overstrung =
designs,
and also as string tension increased as cast iron plates were
incorporated.</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080 =
size=3></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>Mike</DIV></BLOCKQUOTE>
<DIV dir=ltr><SPAN class=140124116-25012005><FONT face="Comic Sans =
MS"
color=#000080 size=3></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><SPAN class=140124116-25012005><FONT face="Comic Sans =
MS"
color=#000080 size=3>1) This depends on many =
factors
including, but not limited to, the placement of the bass bridge. In =
considering
questions like this it is helpful to clear the mind of preconceived =
notions and
traditional design practice that has become common but for which much =
more
elegant solutions may exist.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><SPAN class=140124116-25012005><FONT face="Comic Sans =
MS"
color=#000080 size=3></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><SPAN class=140124116-25012005><FONT face="Comic Sans =
MS"
color=#000080 size=3>2) The "heavier low tenor =
wires" do not
place a side load on the bridge pins that is significantly higher than =
is found
in the upper tenor and treble. Besides, the diameter of these pins is =
usually
larger which reduces the side stress bearing against the wood bridge
cap.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><SPAN class=140124116-25012005></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><SPAN class=140124116-25012005><FONT face="Comic Sans =
MS"
color=#000080 size=3>3) Starting the string =
flare
(relative to the strikeline) higher up in the scale provides much needed =
extra
spacing between the bridge pins in the upper tenor/lower treble region, =
surely a
good thing.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><SPAN class=140124116-25012005><FONT face="Comic Sans =
MS"
color=#000080 size=3></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><SPAN class=140124116-25012005><FONT face="Comic Sans =
MS"
color=#000080 size=3>Del</FONT></SPAN></DIV></BODY></HTML>