<html> Hi Brian'             The term that Baldwin uses is a tone extender. It adds some stiffness to the board at the end of the bridge, it fools the last string in to behaving like there is tension off to the left. It definitely improves tuning stability of the last string. Roger At 09:08 PM 02/12/99 -0500, you wrote: <blockquote type=cite cite>Hi list, I tuned a full size Baldwin upright (about 1 1/2 years old) on my last stop today.  It was an interesting piano.  The tuning pins were a little tighter than I would have liked to have had to deal with, but it tuned quite nicely.  No problems at the breaks.  No major false string problems, not even in the high treble.  The main thing that I noticed was that it had a BIG sound.  (It's also a very heavy piano.  There are a lot of small grands that don't weigh as much... but that's another story.)  Does anyone have any input on that big brass weight through the soundboard down at the bass bridge?  The bass has a big, rather throaty sound, almost resembling an electronic sound.  I've heard a few rumblings from time to time about the concept of loading the soundboard in the area of the bass bridge, perhaps to change impedance?.  But I was hoping that perhaps someone might have a more reasoned idea of the science behind this thing.  (Were you involved in designing this thing, Del?  If so, I'd be interested in any comments you'd like to share.) I know I often am critical of some of the best pianos, but I kind of like this one.  I know there will likely be a number of people who would not like it, and that's ok. If anyone has a comment, feel free. Best wishes to all, Brian Trout Quarryville, PA <a href="mailto:btrout@desupernet.net">btrout@desupernet.net</a> </blockquote> <div>Roger Jolly</div> <div>Saskatoon, Canada.</div> <div>306-665-0213</div> Fax 652-0505 </html>