[CAUT] no comment

[ed440 at mindspring.com]

Avery wrote:

>Can this type of problem be "improved" on by just straightening the 
>agraffes? At least
>until such time that it can be restrung?
>
>Be gentle now. Remember I'm not a heavy-duty rebuilder. :-)
>
>Avery
>

Yes, sometimes.

Use the one piece T handle agraffe wrench from Pianotek. It is solid and gives very good feedback from the agraffe.  The Schaff agraffe tool is too flexible, and won't give clear feedback.

The two obvious problem agraffes have been turned a little too far.  It won't hurt to turn them back a few degrees and see what happens.  They may sound o.k., no buzzes.

If the agraffe is just a little short of parallel to the bridge pins, you can start by turning it back a tiny bit. This will give you a feel for how much you are forcing it when you tighten it further.  Be aware that it may have been "pre-stressed" and left shy by the installer, so you are running a bit of a risk, but not that much. since you start by turning back.

If you are a heavy handed sort, you probably shouldn't try.  You are not forcing it into place, or telling it where it should go. You are feeling it to see if it can move for you.

Don't insist on perfection, improve the situation until your gut says get out while things are good.

And it should be a situation where you can replace the agraffe if it does break.  I have tweaked 20 or 30 like this over the years, with no broken agraffes so far.  

Ed Sutton (walking in where angels fear to tread!)