Capo Buzz

[Alan McCoy]

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Lance,

By all means weave in a small piece of flange bushing cloth or yarn in the
duplex length. Moving it tight up against the duplex (away from the capo)
will minimize the deadening effect on the speaking length.

You can test how much deadening there might be using your finger on the
duplex. Repeatedly strike the key of the offending note and alternately
touch and lift your finger off the duplex length. Touch the duplex in
different spots closer and farther from the duplex. All the while listen to
the tone, projection, sustain of the note. Touching nearer the capo will
often deaden the tone, but not always. There are hundreds if not thousands
of grands (not just S&S) that have little bits of felt woven in the duplex
length to cut off those annoying high harmonics. You can often do this
without deadening the tone. Test it for yourself.

As has been said very well here, it is not a cure. But sometimes it is the
only option you have.

Alan McCoy
____________________________________________
Alan McCoy, RPT
Eastern Washington University
509-359-4627
amccoy@mail.ewu.edu


 -----Original Message-----
From: caut-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces@ptg.org]On Behalf Of Lance
Lafargue
Sent: Monday, October 20, 2003 6:18 AM
To: 'College and University Technicians'
Subject: RE: Capo Buzz


  So I guess my narrowed question is, given all of these excellent posts,
is:  With a new B, should I increase the angle and slightly narrow the bar
on the speaking length side, given everything else I have tried?  Is there
some consensus, given the problems with the design?  And how do I determine
if I have a "soft" V-bar?  Voicing did nothing permanent but continue to
weaken the piano.  I plan to call Steinway first before I do anything
further.  This owner of a new B is currently, officially, depressed  ;  )



  I may first experiment with yarn in the duplex and PVCE glue on that
segment, before shaping the bar.



  Lance Lafargue, RPT

  LAFARGUE PIANOS

  New Orleans Chapter, PTG

  985.72P.IANO

  lancelafargue@bellsouth.net



  -----Original Message-----
  From: caut-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of
Horace Greeley
  Sent: Saturday, October 18, 2003 11:02 PM
  To: College and University Technicians
  Subject: Re: Capo Buzz




  Ron,

  At 09:47 PM 10/18/2003 +1100, you wrote:



  At 7:22 PM -0400 18/10/03, Ed Sutton wrote:




  . . . Within the constraints of the S & S design, there are 3 causes of
buzz: poorly shaped capo, capo bruised by rough stringing, capo too soft due
to failure to case harden in casting.


  Plus the fallacious practice of attempting to set the font duplex length
to a harmonic of the speaking length.


  I totally agree with your assessment; and think that this practice has to
do with a basic misunderstanding of what the front duplex is supposed to do.

  The patent drawings help support this assumption.  I do not remember the
patent descriptions sufficiently well to know if they confirm or refute what
might be construed from the pictures as being a reinforcing system.  This is
further complicated, I think, by the presence of the movable cast front
duplexes still seen on so many older S&S pianos.

  I'm sure that there are others on the list who are much more current with
this stuff than myself...maybe they'll speak up.

  Best.

  Horace

  P.S. - Almost forgot, I've heard some very good compliments about an
instrument of yours that a friend of mine heard in Syndey...Opera House,
maybe?  Good Show!!!

  hg



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