Detuning bass strings was Re: loose bridge pins

[Paul Tizzard]

Hi, 

A couple of weeks ago someone asked if they could detune just the bass strings, to work on the bass bridge, without damaging the frame. I was surprised to read that one can! I have always been led to believe that you have to detune the piano in a specific way eg. all A's, A#'s etc. I see that Ron Nossaman has again ok'd the procedure, so I wasn't seeing things. How is it that structurally the frame is able to withstand the release of tension in the bass area? Is it related to the findings of Al Sanderson, that the plate is "loaded up more equally" when pitch raising  starting on A1 and going up chromatically?
Thanks,

Paul Tizzard
S. Africa


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ron Nossaman" <RNossaman@cox.net>
To: "Pianotech" <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Monday, February 03, 2003 6:51 AM
Subject: Re: loose bridge pins


> 
> >Can you "safely" pound in loose bridge pins without structural damage to 
> >the piano?
> 
> Probably, but it won't make them tighter.
> 
> 
> >If this is not recommended, what about "soaking" the holes with 5 min 
> >epoxy, with the pins in place?
> 
> CA works as well. Do you mean just pins, or pins and strings?
> 
> 
> >They are semi  loose, but not to such an extent that you can remove them 
> >without the aid of a needle nose pliers.  If need be, can i safely detune 
> >the entire bass section, in order to remove and replace ALL the old pins?
> 
> Yes.
> 
> >There are NO cracks in either bridge, so I just want to get the pins TIGHT 
> >as quickly and easily as possible. Thanks for the help!
> >
> >
> >Terry Peterson
> 
> Now, why do you want to tighten the pins? If there are no cracks, what are 
> you hoping to accomplish in the bass? What about the treble? What's the 
> situation with the piano, and what kind of piano, that indicated you needed 
> to make the pins tighter?
> 
> Ron N
> 
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