Restring Nut

[Richard Brekne]

Ron Nossaman wrote:

>
> >This thing (soundboard) must be really stiff.
>
> * Bingo!
>
> , so I decided to lower the plate
> >and set string deflection at 0.5mm treble and 0.8 bass. (at low tension)
>
> * Why? Just curious what you have in mind here. What was the bearing like
> before tear down? Are you hoping to get more sound, or what?

I got the piano with the strings removed and the plate off already. But I have
played and tuned this piano a number of times before that happened. It had very long
sustain and weak tone. So I tried to make an "educated guess" that setting string
deflection as mentioned would be an increase, (I deduced that from the lack of
indentation from the strings on the bridge) and that this would decrease sustain and
increase power. The adjustment in the scale was thought of as an evening out of the
scale (insertion of half gauges) and a lessening of tension (in case I over did it
with the deflection business) This decision on the strings was really nothing more
then a shot in the dark based on the vague feeling that evening out the scale
couldnt hurt inharmonicity (a problem with these old buggers) and that if I wanted
to do anything at all, it should be in the direction of lessening tension (the side
of me that likes to play it safe ?? )

>
>
>  Not haveing a scaleing program, and this being just a first try at such I
> >decided to just keep it real simple. I am pulling it up to pitch tommorrow so I
> >will know how it sounds.
>
> * You're doing fine in general, but you need to round up a few more of the
> available tools. You really should get some sort of scaling program, or make
> up a spreadsheet with Dave Roberts' "Calculating Technician" information.
> You need to try to determine what you have before you start making changes,
> so the changes will make it better instead of worse. What you suggest here
> probably isn't detrimental or dangerous, but it would be better to know that
> before hand. There was a shareware DOS version of Rescale available for the
> download a while back. Does anyone out there have the URL on that one? It
> would at least be something.

>  Ron N

Actually I have a stringing program somewhere in my puter files. I have looked at it
and couldnt make hide nor tails out of it. Not to mention not really knowing what
different parameters result in what kinds of sound effects. It seems like one
subject to talk of inharmonicity, and another to know what kinds of tensions should
be applied to different kinds of soundboard situations. Since until recently I knew
nothing of either I have been hesitant to use the program.


Richard Brekne
I.C.P.T.G.  N.T.P.F.
Bergen, Norway