<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; = charset=windows-1252"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1276" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hello List</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>This post is inordinately long, so I = have started afresh. I _think_ it was David Skolnik who said: "<FONT face="Times = New Roman" size=3>  For example, if the string were to traverse the bridge, = captured by the pins (horizontally) , but at 1/16th or 1/32' above the bridge = surface?" <FONT face=Arial size=2>It is, as I see it, the opposing angles of = the bridge pins which keeps the string in firm contact with the bridge top. There = can be Negative Downdbearing - yet, because of this " opposed angling pins" = format, the string will be in firm contact with the strings (unless you loosen off = the string tension). Imagine a fiddle - or 'cello - the string has very firm = contact with the bridge and there is immense downbearing - except that the = strings used are not of the piano variety. It goes without saying, of course, that = the downbearing will diminish as strings are loosened off - but which = measurement should be taken note of? the measurement _before_ loosening, or the = measurement _after_ loosening off the strings. I feel that the closer to Zero = downbearing in the fully tensioned strung piano, the fuller the tone and the longer the = remanence after the string is struck. The remanence decreases in = inverse ratio to the downbearing. The more downbearing:the less remanence. There = is also another thread being introduced on the list lately: That of the effects = of wave-form cancellations in the grand piano (the uprights are usually = against a wall and therefore don't count so much) This cancellation effect is = taken from the difference of the wave-form taken from the string side to that = taken from the rib side. It seems to me that if it were possible to invert the = rib-side wave-form we should end up with a very improved sound as it = would add to rather than detract from the rib-side wave-form. It is the rib-side = wave-form which is hurled into the audience by the open top lid..... but what = happens when that lid is removed I ask? Surely the cancellation effect is greater!</FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Over to you.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Michael G (UK) from a darkening Sussex = Downland village <BR></DIV></FONT></BODY></HTML>