<!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 6.00.2800.1400" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>"Of course you took measurments of the = olde bridges."</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>What good is that going to do for you? = New soundboard + different panel thickness + new rib scale + different crowning + different downbearing = different = bridge height. Better to build soundboard. Clamp soundboard in place (screws, = clamps, whatever), install plate and then measure how tall you need your = bridges. Otherwise you may be sadly surprised.   :-(</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>"I drop the plate, adjust to = approximate placement and mark the struts. Remove plate, rough cut for plate = clearance."</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>That's only if you install a bridge cap = prior to setting downbearing. If you set downbearing first, you don't need to = worry about that. When I build my bridge root I simply keep in short enough to fit = under the struts (unless, of course, you have some wierdo piano that has the strut = cutting down into the root).</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>"I then use cardboard shims between the = plate and the soundboard."</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>That was essentially what I did when = installing a new board in an upright - where you could closely inspect to see if the soundboard was snug up to the rim at every point. On a grand you can't = see that joint everywhere, and I would still fear that the soundboard was not = snug up to the rim. Someone else suggested temporarily screwing the soundboard down = to the rim - I like that idea. But thanks anyway Joe. What works for one, may = not be the best course of action for another, etc.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Terry Farrell</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; = BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT><BR></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Terry asked: "<FONT face="Times New = Roman" size=3>How do others approach this task?<FONT face=Arial size=2>"</FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><BR></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Terry,</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I use the "Plate bolts". Fit the = board to the rim. Of course have the rough bridge heights. (Of course you took = measurments of the olde bridges.<G>) The worst one is clearing the plate = struts. I drop the plate, adjust to approximate placement and mark the struts. = Remove plate, rough cut for plate clearance. Once you have the struts = cleared, drill for the plate bolts and insert them. (All of them.<G> ) I = then use cardboard shims between the plate and the soundboard. (Front rail = "card" punchings are good.) Cinch down, lightly and get out the string. Saw = cuts in several places. (or router trimmer cuts, is easier.) This will get you = in the ball park fairly quickly. The rest is in/out many times w/plate to = fine tune the D.B. It's tedious, but can be done in less than a day. YMMV!<G></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Best Regards,</DIV></FONT> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Joe Garrett, R.P.T.<BR>Captain, Tool Police<BR>Squares R I</FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>