sanderson Bass strings/scale

[Delwin D Fandrich]

----- Original Message -----
From: "John Delacour" <JD@Pianomaker.co.uk>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: November 30, 2001 3:52 PM
Subject: Re: sanderson Bass strings/scale


> At 2:02 PM -0800 11/30/01, Delwin D Fandrich wrote:
>
> >Well, now I'm really confused. Just what did you mean when you wrote:
> >
> >"To change the wire gauges on a Steinway is deliberately to change the
> >character of the tone -- and inevitably for the worse.  The long
> >bridge on Steinways is correctly shaped and positioned for the
> >Steinway sound, which comes from a relatively short, low-tension
> >scaling.  In my opinion, it's the height of presumption to alter
> >this.....
>
> To sum up, my own practice and yours would probably differ only in
> the detail if I were to take rebuilding to the lengths that you and
> others in America take it.  I've seen enough of and rebuilt enough of
> other makers' pianos and am content nowadays simply to make the very
> best job of what I choose to restore and concentrate on the new piano.
>
> JD
> ---------------------------------------

That's rather what I thought, John. Which is why I wrote the post you took
such offence to.

Now, I'll be the first to acknowledge that I have no monopoly on knowledge
and experience and I certainly don't know it all. But, when you write,
"...the fact is that it is not possible to "rescale" the plain wire scale
without fitting a new bridge, since it is the bridge and not primarily the
wire gauges that define the scale." it sounds to me like you're saying it is
not possible to 'rescale' the plain wire scale without fitting a new bridge.
Yet it now turns out this is something you and I both do. Somewhat more
judiciously than the Model O being used as a current example, I trust, but
we both do it.

Perhaps if you took the trouble to read what you, yourself, write before you
criticize others you could save us all a lot of trouble.

Regards,

Del