[CAUT] Adams 1/4 tone sharp piano

[Ron Nossaman]

 >From a service perspective, it all an indulgence. But,
> FWIW, here at CalArts you can't get a degree in piano without "climbing 
> inside of it" (as it were) at some point. So the issue here is not IF 
> non-traditional things are going to happen but how.

Swell.


>  If something IS going to be off limits, I have to be able to back up 
> the restriction with hard facts. I for one do not want to take even the 
> slightest risk of a plate giving up the ghost in my face. 

Me either, but the hard facts are that you don't know for sure 
until you try. Odds are, you'll get away with it, but can you 
tell how overbuilt the plate is by looking at it?


>Is plate 
> damage the greatest risk involved in this +50 scenario? Nothing 
> irreversible (or even short term) happens to the strings or other 
> components? 

The plain wire will likely be fine, unless C-8 has over a 55mm 
speaking length. The potential problem will be in the small 
wrapped strings that are already well over 60% of their 
breaking strength at 440. It might be just fine in some 
pianos, and damaging in others. Again, odds are it will 
probably be fine, but do you know the margin you have to work 
with? And who takes the responsibility for guessing wrong?

Ron N