[CAUT] Improved Duplex

[James Ellis]

The "bowing sounds" coming from the front lengths that Mark Cramer is
talking about are not due to rendering across the hardened duplex pieces.
They occur during tuning at such time when the front length just happens to
pass through resonance with some partial, even the fundamental, of the
speaking length.  There is still enough bleed-through from speaking-lengths
to front lengths to cause this when one is resonant with the other.  I
regularly tune a 20-year-old SD-10 that had this problem until I muted it.
It did have felt there, but the felt was cosmetic only, and did not touch
the front lengths of the strings.

As for hard laminated bridge caps, they are more stable, unison-tuning wise.

Jim Ellis

At 01:49 PM 12/16/07 -0700, you wrote:
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>   1. Re: improved duplex (mystery solved) (Ron Nossaman)
>From: Ron Nossaman <rnossaman at cox.net>
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>MIME-Version: 1.0
>To: Cramer at brandonu.ca, College and University Technicians <caut at ptg.org>
>References: <1197827269.9f1ae99cCramer at BrandonU.CA>
>In-Reply-To: <1197827269.9f1ae99cCramer at BrandonU.CA>
>Date: Sun, 16 Dec 2007 12:31:42 -0600
>Reply-To: College and University Technicians <caut at ptg.org>
>Message-ID: <47656F0E.4090700 at cox.net>
>Content-Type: multipart/mixed;
boundary="------------090106040505050101010301"
>Subject: Re: [CAUT] improved duplex (mystery solved)
>Message: 1
>
>
>> I notice you've effectively dampened the "whistle factor" by neglecting
to blacken the raised plate-lettering, and failing to underscore it with
the equally decorative (whistle-worthy) graphite on the bridge cap. ;>)
>
>I didn't blacken the lettering, because it's no longer a 
>Steinway plate. Graphite on a bridge cap mostly just provides 
>visual contrast so the notcher can see what he's doing. It's 
>not necessary for bridge cap lubrication.
>
>
>> However, I fear you may raise the "squawk" level with the maxi-just
hitch-pins and plate-pleaser rim bolts. :>)      
>
>So far, the only squawking has been from the icon 
>anti-desecration squad, which can be muffled by closing the 
>door. The users are quite pleased with the sound.
>
>
>> Meanwhile, your front duplex will have the Euro-makers in an over-steer
induced, compass-needle-bending, four wheel-drift... "is zis not vhat ve
hav been do-ingck all along!?"  
>
>Hey, just because the Euro makers have been doing it doesn't 
>make it wrong. <G> What works, works.
>
>
>> BTW, any photos of your more recent laminated bridge cap?
>
>Attached. Actually, the D+ in the front duplex photo has this 
>same capping. It just doesn't show up in the photo. I've been 
>using this stuff for about three years now, and haven't yet 
>heard, or heard of any developing false beats in any of them. 
>I *really* like it.
>
>
>> thanks,
>> Mark Cramer,
>> Brandon University
>> 
>> PS I notice the understring felt in the front length. The current
Baldwin de-tuned capo (last 20 years or so)(no felt or braid) generates the
most inharmonic hoots and whistles of any instrument I know of, yet damping
the front-length (tween tuning-pin and foremost termination) doesn't do
much to clean this up.
>
>Those noises are coming from the active duplex, not the front 
>length. The segments are too long.
>
>
>> My favourite is the wonderful "bowing" sounds while tuning, as strings
render across the hardened duplex peices. Add this to the strumming of some
over-worn horizontally-grained damper felt, and you've got all the makings
of a commissioned new-music work.    
>
>Yes, quite fresh in memory. I tuned a newish Baldwin L Friday.
>
>
>> The one-peice termination strip (like yours) however, as I've
encountered in various Euro pianos, Knabe and others, are typically quiet. 
>
>It'll work with as many pieces as you like. It's the shortened 
>segment length that does it.
>Ron N
>
>Attachment Converted: "C:\Eudora 1\Attach\Caps.jpg"
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