Counter bearing treatment

[Joseph Alkana]

Jon Page wrote:

> 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
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jon,
Did you eliminate completely felt from the tuning pin area to the new
counterbearing bar?
Also, is Kawai the "other" name you are contemplating. I have had lots
of problems with them for the same reason as you.

Joseph Alkana   RPT