This all makes quite a bit of sense given the fact that a change in the hight of the string relative to the bridge pins effects the offset angle the string takes through the bridge pin enough to cause a significant difference in its length. Significant in the sense that said change in length in this string segment can and does have a significant effect on string pitch and likewise string tension. What is problematic about this is that any such change in string position height to the bridge pin is governed by the response of the surface of the bridge to climatic changes, and hence quite uniform... which in turn dictates a pitch change that is directly related to the length of the string. Shorter strings will be more effected then longer strings... hence a very graduated and even curve of change in pitch.... which clearly does not happen. We see big breaks where the bridge is doglegged which need to be accounted for amoung other things. Still... there is something to this that makes a good deal of sense. RicB Hi Jeff, My intent, and I think Ron's, was that conforming to bearing points and wood crushing was possibly/likely the cause of much of that first, rapid pitch drop (after chip). I think elongation happens more over time, unless one does something to speed it along (like tune 100 cents sharp, or vigorously work the string). And even then, additional elongation will continue to take place to some extent. I certainly didn't intend to imply that elongation doesn't happen. Like just about everything to do with pianos, there are a lot of factors involved, always. Focusing on one and ignoring others is a very common trap. And, of course, when writing about something we tend to focus on just that one thing. We _could_ always add a disclaimer "It's more complicated than that, actually" to everything we say or write <G>. Regards, Fred Sturm University of New Mexico --
This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC