Sohmer

[Owen J. Greyling RPT]

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Hi David, and gang,

Thanks for the different suggestions as to how to measure the crown.  =
I've not measured crown on the top of the board before, as you never =
know what has been the practice, regarding thinning of the board, of the =
original factory.  On this piano, with the maple stiffener on the bottom =
of the long bridge, my usual fishing line could not be used. So, I =
clamped a straight edge, across the bottom of the piano, and measured up =
to the board at the rim or cut off, and also on both sides of the long =
bridge.  Move the straight edge a foot down the piano, and measure =
again.  Yes, I think the board has crown, on both sides of the bridge, =
(I raised the pitch to A430), from the belly bar back until almost the =
top of the base bridge.  At that point, the crown remains 1/16"positive =
on the bent side, but drops to less then 1/16'negative on the straight =
(base bridge) side.

There is no measurable positive downbearing on the base bridge, and the =
base section wishes it could sound as good as a washtub, mop handle =
configuration...it doesn't. The low tenor suffers from duck quacking or =
puppy barking syndrome, I'm not sure which. The middle treble up to 88 =
is another story. Somewhat thin, but has respectable sustain, and lots =
of false beats. How you measure downbearing on that long bridge would be =
a pearl of wisdom...?
I really want to fix this instrument properly, (have to convince the =
client), so I really welcome all comments and suggestions.  After =
reading Del's comment's about the tension on these pianos, I've ordered =
Tremaine Parson's Pscale program, and dug out Jim Hayes chapter in John =
Travis' book.  I'll have to find the journal articles, that I never =
bothered to read on string behaviour and scale design. I have always =
thought that it was a little presumptuous, for myself, to attempt to =
redesign, rather then rebuild pianos.  I refer to what I have been doing =
as conservative rebuilding, because my goal has been to put each piano =
back the way it was, when it was new.  Anyway, seems it's time for a =
more progressive approach.  I'm leaning towards a new board with a =
conventional cap. If this is a mistake, please don't wait to tell =
me.....

By the way, I think this piano would qualify as an art case, some artist =
went and painted it white, I could send along a picture if there is =
interest...sorry about the long post. Better get to work....   Thanks in =
advance for your advice, and suggestions.
Owen.

---- Original Message -----=20
  From: David Skolnik=20
  To: pianotech@ptg.org=20
  Sent: Friday, March 22, 2002 1:58 AM
  Subject: Re: Sohmer=20


  Owen -
  Have you had a chance to measure the downbearing and, if so, how did =
you do it?

  David Skolnik




  At 09:08 PM 03/05/2002 -0500, you wrote:

    Del, Dale, Jim, Robert, Wim and everyone else...
    =20
    When the piano arives, the very first thing I am going to do is =
measure the down bearing and see if  I can determine just what direction =
the board is crowned.  I spoke to the owner of the piano again today, I =
asked him if he found the serial number...Oh yes, says he, it's easy to =
remember to..... A435.( Del.. What was that you said about extremely =
high scale tensions...highest I've ever measured?.)  Would you want to =
lower the tension so the piano could comfortably be raised to 440? I =
think I'm in about as deep as I can stand for one day.
    By the way.. you guys are truly a great resource. Thanks for your =
interest and support. I will keep all posted on this one.
    Thankyou, Owen.
    ----- Original Message -----=20
      From: Erwinspiano@AOL.COM=20
      To: pianotech@ptg.org=20
      Sent: Tuesday, March 05, 2002 6:43 PM=20
      Subject: Re: Sohmer=20


      In a message dated 3/5/2002 9:27:35 AM Pacific Standard Time, =
pianobuilders@olynet.com writes:


        Subj:Re: Sohmer =20
        Date:3/5/2002 9:27:35 AM Pacific Standard Time=20
        From:pianobuilders@olynet.com=20
        Reply-to:pianotech@ptg.org=20
        To:pianotech@ptg.org=20
        Sent from the Internet=20








          ----- Original Message -----=20
          From: Erwinspiano@AOL.COM=20
          To: pianotech@ptg.org=20
          Sent: March 05, 2002 6:12 AM=20
          Subject: Re: Sohmer=20




            Has anybody had experience with a Sohmer piano with agraffes =
on the long bridge?=20
            Thankyou,=20
            Owen
                              Owen=20
              Yes I have and they went all the way up. I wrote of this =
before but this piano had agraffes all the way up and the board was a =
reverse crown design. Freak design but awesome sound. A difficult on to =
string>
                       Hmmmm....


                 Are you sure those were reverse crown by design? Those =
I've done had positive crown. And extremely high scale tensions -- =
highest I've ever measured. Around 62,000 lbs (28,000 kgf +) or better =
as I recall. Took some doing to bring it down and retain the agraffe =
design (as per the customers request).


        Del=20
                  Am I sure. Hmmmmmmm
           You know my wife is the one who usually ask that question and =
generally try to be sure and in this case it was too intentional to be =
an accident. A string across the under side of the belly in many places =
showed the ribbing to be very uniform and symetrical (o.k. Quasi you =
know what I mean) You could have made salad nicely in it once the =
strings were off. Also the bearing was still adequately positive and =
also intentional looking and reasonable. Sustain as long as your life. I =
don't know I liked it. It had what I call the magic soundboard syndrome. =
Any things possible I guess but if it was an accident ,which I doubt, If =
it ain't broke don't fix it.=20
      >>>>>>>>>>>Dale>>>>>>>>>>>=20

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