Foote Rattlers

[Jim Coleman, Sr.]

Hi Ed:

Is there any possibility that some varnish inside the soundboard holes
for the plate shoulder bolts is touching the shoulder bolt? Or is it
possible to look with a mirror under the Bass bridge shelf for a foreign
object? Is there any debris caught under the relief kerf between the
bottom of the tenor bridge and the soundboard?

Jim Coleman, Sr.

On Thu, 11 Sep 1997 A440A@aol.com wrote:

> Greetings all, 
>      Ummm ,   HELP!!  
>     I have run into a soundboard rattle that I cannot squelch.  It is a
> Steinway B, (Hamburg).  and there is a buzz on all the bass notes.  It is
> presently in a very high-dollar recording studio, so it absolutely has to be
> fixed.  Here is what I know about it;
>     Light pressure on the board, under the cut-outs around the bend between
> bass and treble areas will stop it, but wedging a small wedge between the
> board and bridge here will not.
>      From under the piano, I can lightly tug on the lowest three ribs and
> hear a scrunch,scrunch sound which sounds like splintered wood.  When doing
> this, the sound seems to come directly from the bridge.  
> There are not visible cracks or repairs on the board or bridge in this area,
> and the buzz seems to be somewhat humidity dependant.  
>    So,  shall I drill small holes from underneath, into the bottom of the
> bridge assembly, then fill with glue and hammer in shoe-plugs hoping to force
> glue into any opening inside this area?  This is what I may try, assuming
> that there is a separation in the board, under the bridge.  The edges of the
> board are tight, and there is no discernible separation between ribs and
> boards.  The dowels all appear to be tight.  
>     Ideas, anyone?  
> Thanks, 
> Ed Foote 
> Precision Piano Works
> Nashville, Tn. 
>