Ron Nossaman wrote: > >Hi Ron, > > > >So if humidity *is* finally balanced properly would you then consider > >tapping strings down on the bridge? > > > >Regards, > >Don Rose, B.Mus., A.M.U.S., A.MUS., R.M.T., R.P.T. > > Hi Don, > Why would I want to in *any* circumstances other than as part of settling > in a restringing? Strings don't levitate above bridges in the first place, > so what exactly is tapping them down on the bridge presumed to do by way of > a fix? > Ron N They may not levitate... but they have a habit of somehow or another finding themselves in a position of being somewhat less then tightly held down against the bridge from time to time. And this in instances of soundboards with crown and bearing gauges showing plenty of string deflection. I am baffled myself as to how this comes about... have heard plenty of reasoning for it, none of which I can see is particularilly documennted fact so it remains to speculate as to why... but regardless the condition certainly does present itself from time to time. I think the main thing is something I heard from Mitch Kiel about 10 years ago... not to overdo it. You dont want to bury the strings into the wood, but they definantly need to have good contact. You know one possibility that comes to mind is something Ron just pointed out recently... the bridge swells and shrinks and the pins remain rather stable... (perhaps I misunderstood..). If the bridge then swells at times.. then it would push the strings upwards on the bridge pins... went the wood shrinks back.... its not guaranteed that the string will follow... especially if the bridge pin is notched...just a thought.. -- Richard Brekne RPT, N.P.T.F. Bergen, Norway mailto:Richard.Brekne@grieg.uib.no
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