recipe for capo bar dressing

[PHIL SLOFFER, MA067 855-1244]

Some of the tricks I know about capo bars or the things I try
when a piano needs help in the cash register.

Any of these things may work or may not work and if they work
they may be short term or last longer than you expect.

None of these things would work on new Baldwins that use the so
called "termination pieces".  However, old Baldwins respond
pretty well.

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Not necessarily in this order.

Push the string back and forth on the capo bar, i.e. move the
string back and forth, in and out of the string cuts.  I use a
brass stick but a dull screw driver will work too.

Loosen one end of the string about a half to three quarters of a
turn and pull up the slack on the other side.  This puts a new
string surface against the capo bar.  This also works on
aggraffes.

Loosen the strings.  (I do this one unison at a time.)  Rub the
capo bar back and forth with a dull screw driver in and out of
the string cuts.  Rub the capo bar with 220 grit sand paper.  Rub
the strings with sand paper where they touch the capo bar.

Reshape hammer, level strings, travel hammer, fit hammer to
string.

Try moving the action in and out and test for the best sound.
Make a note of the difference and then re-hang that one hammer
accordingly.  I sometimes have one or two hammers in the capo
area that are hung a 1/16" closer to the hammer flange than the
rest of the hammers.

Check front to back angle of hammer.  As old hammers are re-
shaped they will over strike.  Re-hang as needed.

If you decide to put a mute in the strings try this method.  I
use a piece of buckskin about 1/8th " wide or less and usually
not longer that 1/4 inch.  Stick this piece of leather between
the 1 & 2 or 2 & 3 strings just in front of the capo bar and
behind the front aliquot.  As you play the note, move the leather
forward and backward and leave it where it sounds best.

There are others but this is all I could think of at the moment.

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Phil Sloffer                  Indiana University School of Music
psloffer@ucs.indiana.edu                     Bloomington Indiana
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