David Love wrote: << What do you think explains the response that (Ed Foote? don't remember who it was exactly) got when he placed some wedges between the gaps and board and reported an appreciable loss of "tone". Del replies: >>I don't attempt to explain phenomena such as this unless I am there to observe the experiment. There are way too many variables to make flat cause and effect statements. How big was the wedge? What was it made out of? Where was it placed? How much distortion did it cause? Were all of the glue joints tight? What was the condition of the soundboard? Did it have crown? Did it have string bearing? What was the overall condition of the bridge? What part of the spectrum was affected? What is meant by "loss of tone?" Etc..... >> Well, this one is easy! The wedges were pine, 3/4" wide, long enough taper to just reach the back side of the cut-out, pushed in firmly by hand in the center of each cut-out. The glue joints all appeared to be tight on the ribs, bridges, dowels. The soundboard was uncracked and had a normal amount of crown everywhere except the 5th octave, where it was approx. 1/2 as much as the octave below, (again, a somewhat normal set-up). All that aside, it is easy enough to find out for yourself. simply cut some wedges and stuff them under the cutouts in a Steinway bridge. Listen before and after and make up your own mind based on your own observations. The test is easy, reversable, and totally impervious to outside influence! Regards, Ed Foote RPT www.uk-piano.org/edfoote/ www.uk-piano.org/edfoote/well_tempered_piano.html <A HREF="http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/399/six_degrees_of_tonality.html"> MP3.com: Six Degrees of Tonality</A>
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