Newbie question: Are bridle straps necessary?

[Avery Todd]

Hi Sarah,

Maybe I'm not understanding exactly what you're describing but is the
hammer rail set to only travel app. 1/2 the distance toward the strings
before it stops? From the rest position? And are the bridle tapes adjusted
so that you can fully depress the UC and not have any keys wink? How far
away from the string does the backcheck check?

>On the down-side, the bridle strap seems to be the indirect source of
>difficulty with my Hamilton, and I would appreciate any advice as to a
>remedy.  The yank can be so severe on a hard staccato as to rebound the
>hammer quite forcefully into the hammer rail, causing the hammer to bounce
>back towards the strings.  On some notes the strap will lift the wippen and
>hence the damper, causing the note to ring a bit long (until the hammer is
>en route back to the rail).  On even fewer notes (two or three, perhaps),
>the "bounce" actually returns the hammer to the strings for a second strike.
>(This never happens with anything I've played, but I suppose it *could*,
>with the right piece.

You don't mention key dip/aftertouch here. Are you sure you have
adequate aftertouch with the 1/8" let-off? That "might" be the
problem. App. what is the blow distance?

>Is this just an upright performance limitation I should resign myself to
>accept, or is there some remedy?  For all it's worth, the action is
>regulated to specs, except for one thing.  The letoff is regulated to 1/4",
>rather than 1/8", and the hammer stroke has an added 1/8".  The last piano
>tech (real RPT) to regulate this piano did the same thing, and now I know
>why he did it.  If the letoff is adjusted to 1/8", there can be a
>double-strike on some softly played notes:  The hammer bounces off of the
>string, and the butt returns to the jack before the wippen is elevated
>enough to engage the letoff button.  The butt then rebounds off of the jack,
>bumping the hammer for a second very soft strike.  The greater letoff
>distance remedies the problem, but at slight sacrifice of pp control.
>Another possible factor:  The hammers are a bit hard/bright, probably adding
>a bit to the rebound.  I need to needle them a bit more, still.

Hey, how do you think all us "pros" got to be "pros"? Huh? :-) Asking
a lot of question, trial and error, etc., etc.

>Thoughts?  Advice?  (Yes, I know y'all are going to tell me to call in a
>pro, but I would really enjoy learning this stuff!)
>
>Thanks!
>
>Peace,
>Sarah

Just some misc. thoughts on a "sick" Sunday afternoon. Me, not the afternoon.

Avery