Strings riding up (was Tuning stability)

[David Skolnik]

Ric -
I've tried your procedure before, and again just now, just to remind myself 
why it doesn't entirely work.  First, if the downbearing is positive but 
slight, the difference in height between the string groove and the surface 
the string would rest upon in its modified position could be enough to 
cause an error.  Also, at least when I did it just now, by shifting the 
string to the opposite side of the rear bridge pin, it crosses the planed 
surface of the adjacent string, towards the bass, which could further alter 
your reading.  In other words, if it's really close, you can get a false 
positive, or maybe even a false negative.  If, on the other hand, you are 
of the opinion that less than a certain amount of downbearing showing is 
about as bad as none at all, the method can be useful.  It's just that so 
much of what I see falls into the close range.

One of my concerns, stemming from the original (recent) discussion, begun 
by Jeff Stickney (3/25/04 Tuning Stability) was what appeared to me to be 
an unwarranted shifting of responsibility for negative front bearing onto 
the process of string seating.  I think some of the alternative culprits
that have come up in my discussion with Ron have been quite illuminating, 
for me at least.

With regard to your observation that tapping can have a beneficial, if 
temporary effect, what do you think is happening to initially cause the 
distortion and how do you think  tapping solve it?

Regards,

David Skolnik



At 08:19 PM 4/4/2004 +0200, you wrote:
>Hi Folks... just in for a quickie on sunday nite and had to reply to this 
>as its one of my favorite subjects.
>
>Next time you run into one of those strings that <<need tapping>> or for 
>whatever reasons find itself up the pins a bit and slightly removed from 
>the bridge, do the following.
>
>Loosen the string and pull it off the back bridge pin so the it runs a 
>straight line over the bridge instead of weaving through the bridge 
>pins.  Leave the string where it is usually relative to the front bridge 
>pin.  Then bring it up to tension and take real close look at the 
>interface between the bridge and string.  If there is contact all the way, 
>then you have positive bearing and tapping the string would have lasting 
>effect.  If on the other hand there is no contact then you have the 
>situation Ron Nossaman goes on about, which David Love echoed in his last post.
>
>Some would have it that when the strings find themselves up the pins as it 
>were.. that the later is always the case.  My experience is othewise and I 
>find tapping a usefull proceedure when used judiciously and 
>carefully.  And even in the case of the latter... tapping can be a usefull 
>tool in cleaning up a pianos sound for short term situations such as 
>concerts, recording sessions... etc.
>
>Cheers
>
>RicB
>
>Ed Sutton wrote:
>
>>Of course, neither of us has definitive documented proof of our 
>>positions.  I, at least, do not.  While this discussion might seem too 
>>abstract to warrant this amount of time and space on this list, it 
>>disturbs me to think that the information we disseminate might not be as 
>>solid as we would like to believe.  Of course, the other disturbing 
>>thought is that I might be totally wrong and that my subscribing 
>>privileges haven't yet been revoked!
>>
>>David Skolnik
>>Where is that student with the high-speed video project who was mentioned 
>>during our MOI discussions?
>>We need some high speed microsopic videos of string terminations in action!
>>
>>Ed Sutton
>
>
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