tapping strings

[David Skolnik]

At 11:18 PM 04/03/2002 -0600, Wim wrote:
> > We are supposed to tap the strings to seat them on the bridge. But how 
> often
> > should this be done?

At 11:18 PM 04/03/2002 -0600, Ron wrote:
>Beyond the initial seating and string leveling after stringing - virtually
>never, in my opinion. It doesn't fix a thing.

Ron-
When you say "it doesn't fix a thing", I assume you mean that it doesn't 
fix the cause of the problem, if, in fact, there is a problem.  I suspect 
you might agree that there are occasions where extraneous noise can, at 
least temporarily, be eliminated by carefully seating strings.  Do you 
agree with Greg's assessment of the cause of the problem?

>If I understood correctly the main cause of the string creeping up off the 
>bridge top is the bridge pin climbing up out of it's hole. (Greg Newell)

This scenario might be credible with bridge pins that are of marginal 
tightness, but I find it hard to subscribe to the notion that properly fit 
bridge pin will do so.  On the other hand, Greg might be saying that the 
cap swells in humid season, pushing the string up on the pin, only to leave 
it suspended there when the dry season shrinks the cap, presumably exposing 
more pin.  I'd like to see some experiments along these lines. Accurately 
measure the projection of the bridge pin from the bridge surface in 
opposing extreme seasons.

Isn't it more likely that some degree of negative front bearing has 
encouraged this gap to form?
At 12:01 AM 04/04/2002 -0500, Greg wrote:
>  If you've been reading on this list, it has been mentioned by many and 
> perhaps mostly by it's strongest proponent in Ron Nossman that tapping 
> strings produces mostly dents in the bridge cap but only a short term 
> effect in seating the string.

Greg, or Ron...can you direct me to where Ron would have expressed these 
sentiments? Was it during the course of the Great Chicken/Egg Debate?

David Skolnik