[CAUT] Agraffe noise

[Mark Cramer]

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You mention "there is felt there..." Bob, but perhaps there isn't enough
counter-bearing (upwards deflection) to terminate the string at the
aggraffe.

If a bass-string core is rattling within the aggraffe, it will rattle in
time with the (visible) oscillation of the string.

If there is little or no upward deflection (of the string) from the aggraffe
to the front string-rest, try increasing (shimming) the counter-bearing
with a thick cardboard punching or #6 bridge pin under the string, at the
string-rest.

I'm guessing the piano was re-strung and the replacement string-rest felt is
too thin?.

Otherwise, if worn aggraffes are the source of noise, they will likely
render poorly, and make a "ticking" sound as you try tune. This is common
enough, and best dealt with when preparing to re-string.

good luck!

Mark Cramer,
Brandon University

PS If faculty makes you nervous while you work, go audit one of their
classes sometime!  ;>)
  -----Original Message-----
  From: caut-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces@ptg.org]On Behalf Of
Robert Callaghan
  Sent: Monday, September 13, 2004 11:26 AM
  To: caut@ptg.org
  Subject: [CAUT] Agraffe noise


  Dear List,
  I just started at the local college.  There is one grand piano there where
many plain wire strings and a few bass have a very loud hiss or sizzle.  If
is was a bass string you'd think the copper wrap was loose, but twisting the
string didn't help.  It is the worst case of this I've ever seen.

  The piano has signs of being worked on.  Beside pieces of felt stuck here
and there trying to get rid of the zinging,  there are Pin-Tite stains on
the plate and rock hard, overly lacquered hammers.  On other pianos I've had
good luck tugging upwards on the string, or cleaning out the hole in the
agraffe.  But that hasn't helped in this case.  If I push down firmly on the
string on the tuning pin side of the agraffe it stops.  There is felt there
so it isn't a vibrating string.  In my research I found a Journal article
that mentions that maybe the agraffe itself is loose.

  I wanted to run this by you all before I began testing this theory, or
perhaps someone knows exactly what the problem actually is.  (And because I
have the piano faculty looking over my shoulder I  want to be right the
first time!)

  Thanks for any insights.

  Bob Callaghan

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