Counter bearing treatment

[Jon Page]

I recently restrung a Baldwin R and instead of recovering
the tenor counter-bearing with felt, I replaced it with a half
round bearing bent to the curve. Tuning is this area is much
easier and there seems to be no adverse sympathetic
vibrations. I am considering this replacement on another
popular brand with a wide felt area in this location.

Aside from "tradition" and/or cosmetics is there a real reason
for this application?

I think I read somewhere of the availability of hardened or rolled
steel for this purpose. I just utilized a rod I had and fashioned a
half-round suitable for the application.

My experience has been that felt in this area creates a considerable
amount of friction, whereas a steel counter-bearing creates less.

What say you ,


Jon Page,   piano technician
Harwich Port, Cape Cod, Mass.
mailto:jonpage@mediaone.net
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