Coffee spill on the Bridge

Richard Brekne Richard.Brekne@grieg.uib.no
Sun, 18 Apr 2004 12:51:03 +0200


Wimblees@aol.com wrote:

> In a message dated 4/17/2004 12:40:34 PM Central Standard Time, 
> Richard.Brekne@grieg.uib.no writes:
>
>     Please advise as to the validity of these claims and any other points
>     that should be raised.
>
>     Thanks muchly
>
>     RicB
>
> The first question I have to ask, Ric, is, did you remove the strings, 
> and dry the bridge and sound board area? It would seem to me, that the 
> best way to keep all the problems you indicate will happen, could be 
> prevented if the coffee was cleaned up immediately. Yes, you probably 
> will have to replace the strings, and maybe some of the bridge pins, 
> But I don't think there will be a need to recap the bridge, much 
> less replace the soundboard.
>  

Glad you asked that question Wim.  As I said I got to this instrument 
fairly soon after the incident.  The coffee was dried on the sounboard 
itself, and the lid. Strings and bridge had a little dried black gunge ( 
dust and coffee... early corrosion ?? ) and the bridge cap was pretty 
much dried out, but still slightly damp. The rooms these are in are 
fairly dry boxes, so it woulnd take a couple days to completely dry out 
the thing. 

The affected area was de'strung and bridge pins pulled as soon as I 
discovered it, but I am afraid that a whole day of wood swelling around 
the pins probably has caused most of whatever damage that can do.  I'll 
just have to let the thing completely dry out at this point and see what 
happens.

>  If you didn't clean up the mess right away, it appears you're trying 
> to punish the university for allowing students access to the practice 
> rooms with a cup of coffee. I agree the student should never have 
> brought the coffee in the room in the first place, but don't punish 
> the university for a student's mistake.

I agree, tho it did cross my mind to keep the evidence as it were, since 
it seemed like at least a day had passed. I could have run home and 
grabbed my camera, but after talking to the director I just went ahead 
and removed the strings and pins

> Wim

Thanks for the input

RicB

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