Capo Buzz/the bigger issue

[Jorgensen, Michael L]

Hi Lance,
     Sad this customer is depressed.  Many new piano owners question us about what they hear to see if they should be worried. Often reassurance is all they want, or validation the piano is a good one.  Even the best contain compromises, minor annoying noises,  harsh qualities, relative weak ranges / notes, whangs, twangs, pings etc.   Any one could become a warranty issue.   
      I would fix/minimize/compromise using only reversible methods.  In fact, I personally wouldn't alter the plate on any new piano if the builder told me to.  (Too much liability and hassle).  Let the customer decide how much tone they will sacrifice to reduce the noise,  but guide them to a good decision.  (For a stage,  any noise that doesn't reach the first row really isn't worth compromising tone for, but it's the artists decision always)  

-Mike Jorgensen 


> ----------
> From: 	Lance Lafargue
> Reply To: 	College and University Technicians
> Sent: 	Monday, October 20, 2003 9:18 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
> 
> 
>