Capo shape question

[David Andersen]

>   Hi Dave -- for those of us who haven't read the book what is the 
>prescribed procedure and how would you describe the tonal improvement?
>   Thanks>>>>Dale Erwin

Hey Dale----before I answer, I want to thank you sincerely for your "work 
the knots out of the shoulders" tip when voicing----it has made a huge 
improvement in my ability to control tone. You da man.  This list is 
priceless.

If the plate is out of the piano, it's easy.  You'll see where the 
strings have sort of machined into the soft iron, and that the 
termination point is in a "U" shape rather than a "V" shape.  Use a file 
suitable for soft iron, and carefully work small amounts of material off 
the capo bar until there's maybe a 1 mm termination, and the edge looks 
like a "V."  Pretty simple, and the procedure produces a much stronger  
fundamental tone with either the illusion of more sustain, or more 
sustain. Handy in this, the weakest speaking area of a Steinway(low 
treble).

You can also do it with the plate in by destringing the capo(we usually 
do it in four sections, starting from the treble break) and doing the 
same thing as above using mirrors and squeezing your head as far into the 
action cavity as it will go---this is trickier, and takes more 
skill----DON'T FORGET TO BE CONSERVATIVE.  Sneak up on it.  Don't take 
off too much material.

And that's it.  If you need me to, when Steve Bellieu, my partner and 
shop wizard, gets back in town 
(9/10) I'll have him describe the procedure in greater detail.  He's the 
king of the "V."

Best, David A.