[CAUT] pre-stretching new string Wet vs Dry Soundboard

[Ron Nossaman]

> I think Mike may be on to something here.
> 
> Has anyone looked into the relative "stiffness" of wood assemblies under 
> different MCs?
> 
> Andrew Anderson
> 
> At 02:38 PM 6/8/2007, you wrote:
>> REVELATION:
>>   We tune by listening only to the OUTPUT pitches of the soundboard
>> resulting from the INPUT forces of the strings.  If the INPUT of the 
>> strings
>> stays constant, but the board changed in stiffness due to humidity, the
>> OUTPUT pitches would be different with the same INPUT.  SO WE CHANGE THE
>> TENSION ON THE STRINGS OR THE INPUT TO GET WHAT WE WANT.  This would 
>> explain
>> how giant pitch swings can occur without any corresponding major 
>> change in
>> string length, tension, bridge position, or changes in crown.
>>   I doubt one could tune a piano by adjusting wire tensions to
>> pre-calculated theoretical amounts without listening to the pitches and
>> achieve any reasonable result.
>>
>> -Mike Jorgensen----I'm outa here for a week now.

I agree, it fits observable phenomena. Since the bridge is not 
rigidly mounted, the string input is effectively from a longer 
speaking length, producing a lower pitch than the input. A 
very good and sensible observation, I think. I wonder what the 
amplitude of the effect might be.

Ron N