Cracked Plate!

[Kdivad@AOL.COM]

In a message dated Sat, 23 Mar 2002  4:11:13 AM Eastern Standard Time, Greg Casper <gcasper@pacbell.net> writes:

> Greetings again list:
> 
> Since my post of last week regarding the strange behaviour of a Pease baby
> grand, and heeding the advice of the few who responded, I have determined
> that the plate is indeed cracked. That's what was causing the chaos in
> tuning and playability. Now the question is... is it worth trying to repair
> the plate on this inexpensive piano, or should I just junk it? The case is
> beautiful and it would seem a shame to just toss it, but I'm not in a
> position to spend beau coup dollars fixing it either. The crack is at the
> end of the last bass strut, the one that's overstrung. The plate is crack
> through completely, farther back than the hitch pins for the tenor strings
> (on the understrung portion). I hope this is making some sense. Without
> pictures or being able to draw this, I feel as though I may not be
> explaining it very well.
> 
> In any case, suggestions or ideas GREATLY appreciated. If I can't fix the
> plate, I'm probably donating the thing to Carl Meyer and his capo bar
> hardening experiment.
> 
> Thanks in advance.
> 
> Greg Casper
> San Jose, CA

Greg, plates can be successfully welded in most cases but in this instance due to the severity of the break and the location I personally would be concerned that a weld would not hold.  Secondly I suppose you are correct that this particular piano may not justify the cost and risk of welding and restringing.

David Koelzer
DFW