Hi Ric, > > Keep thinking. > > Grin... I AM... dont rush me already.... seems to me tho...that if you could > avoid the side bearing whilst maintaining the solid contact on the bridge..... I've always wondered about that. I would presume the slant of the bridge pins and the severe angle of the string between pins is intended to keep the string pressed firmly to the top surface of the bridge, but wouldn't the downbearing already achieve that? Perhaps the downbearing isn't severe enough on a piano (vs. other stringed instruments such as a violin) to maintain string/bridge contact during intense vibration??? Perhaps the additional pressure is needed in the event that the soundboard flattens and the downbearing becomes too slight??? Perhaps the consequence of not having the slanted pins and high lateral forces is that the string would sometimes buzz against the bridge surface??? What performance benefit(s) does the current design offer? What problem(s) does it prevent? What would happen if a string were passed straight over the bridge without pins, like on a violin? What would happen? How would it sound? Has anyone experimented with this? (The appendix was once a "good idea," but it's become obsolete and problematic in our species. Perhaps bridge pins are also an obsolete and problematic relic from early in piano history???) Thanks for any insights! Peace, Sarah
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