Del, I absolutely agree. That's why I said "relatively minute". Like so much else in this work, one thing may serve several purposes. I should note that common practice (in some circles) when installing a "CountryMan" pickup was the removal of both the bell bolt and the screwed down strut. I do not ever remember an instrument in which this made an appreciable difference in net tone. Also, I picked up this habit from an old S&S frog, as well as Keith Hardesty and Leonard Jared. Having used it as a process for some time now, I can relate no broken plates, and many, many "improved" instruments. On the other hand, as noted above, I completely concur with your structural analysis. Best! Horace At 08:35 PM 7/28/1998 -0700, you wrote: > > >Horace Greeley wrote: > >> It might also be that the bell bolt is too tight. >> >> Bear in mind that the function of the bell bolt is the _relatively minute_ >> adjustment of bearing . . . . > >---------------------------------------------------------- > >Horace, > >I'm not sure I can agree with this statement. The bell and the accompanying >coupling bolt provide a means of mass-coupling the plate hitch pin panel to the >relatively massive wood rim assembly. In practice this mechanism helps to >prevent the hitch pin panel from vibrating sympathetically with, and bleeding >energy from, the strings. It raises the mechanical impedance of the plate >assembly. > >The coupling bolt needs to be only tight enough to accomplish this coupling >function. Not enough to appreciably affect string bearing. > >Regards, > >Del > > > Horace Greeley, CNA, MCP, RPT Systems Analyst/Engineer Controller's Office Stanford University email: hgreeley@leland.stanford.edu voice mail: 650.725.9062 fax: 650.725.8014
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