Hairline cracks in Treble Bridge

[newdaymoore@bellsouth.net]

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Yesterday I did answer but I put my answer down in the text where your =
questions are and did my answers in a blue font.  But when it posted it =
just put the font in black and blended it so you cannot tell my answers =
from your questions.  So here is the answers again in the beginning of =
the email.  SORRY

The gentleman who tuned also did the repairs.  Repairs done were:  1 set =
damper felts, 1 set bridle straps, a hammer, a thorough cleaning inside, =
new key bed, a tuning and 2 ivory keys tops.  I bought the piano from a =
lady who claims the piano has been in her family since it was new.  =
Handed down from generation to generation.  Her son played it and was =
going to keep it but didn't have room in his house for it. So he went =
with a digital.  The thing that is bothering me is the techniciam who =
has done the tuning and repairs is the one who checked it out before I =
bought it from her and said the repairs listed above were all it needed =
and would be good for another generation, with tunings as needed.  He =
came and did the cleaning and removed the part that has the hammers and =
took it with him, then returned and put the piano back together, =
finished the repairs and tuned.  As soon as he left the one key began =
making this annoying sound.  He came back and discovered a few hairline =
cracks in the upper treble bridge.  He said when he checked out the =
piano at the lady's house he did overlook the bass and treble bridge.    =
I bought the piano from the lady for $230.  I bought it for my teenage =
daughter and myself.  I took lessons for years as a child and my =
daughter wants to learn.  The piano was delivered by a piano mover on =
10-04-2005, and the technician came out for the second time on =
10-13-2005 to bring back the part he took with the hammers and put the =
piano back together and tuned it.  We played the piano before he came =
out to work on it and we have been playing on  it daily since the =
repairs.  When he came out the third time to figure out the noise he put =
a sponge wedge in  between the strings and it does absorb the abnormal =
sound in the F key  (F5).  So I am concerned as to what to do from here. =
 Repair further or just chuck the piano and forget it.  I don't know if =
my husband will allow me to get another piano after this experience.  I =
will check out the web site listed below and see if there are any =
technicians in my area.  I would like a second opinion.  I went =
yesterday to a Steinway store.  I tell you either I have weird ears and =
really can't distinguish good sound or this old 1890 Sohmer has got a =
far better sound.  Those steinways sound small and faint. My Sohmer =
sound is BIG and deep.   They also had a Boston there that I played on =
and one of the keys wouldn't play.  She said it was the humidity that =
was causing the hammer to stick, that Boston was a new piano.  I =
couldn't believe it.  They will only give me $700.00 for a trade in.
  ----- Original Message -----=20
  From: Michael Spalding=20
  To: Pianotech=20
  Sent: Wednesday, November 16, 2005 2:38 PM
  Subject: RE: Hairline cracks in Treble Bridge


  Dear Newdaymoore,

  When a single note develops a noise following tuning, it usually =
indicates a sympathetic vibration.  Tuning that note has (perhaps) =
altered its pitch to bring it in tune with whatever is resonating, and =
also increased its energy output by tuning all 3 strings of the unison =
to vibrate at the same frequency.  It might be a normal part of the =
piano (caster, hinge, etc.), a damaged part of the piano (separated =
rib-soundboard joint) or something else in the room (picture frame, =
curios on glass shelf, etc.).   IMHO it's highly unlikely that hairline =
cracks in another part of the bridge are related to your noise.

  However, you've got bigger issues:  "I have recently put $523 worth of =
repairs into this piano.  I am wondering if I should even do the treble =
bridge repair...
  Facts you've provided:   You are a piano owner, not a technician =
(that's OK), your piano is 115 years old (that's at least 2 piano =
lifetimes), and you've had it tuned by someone who does not do repairs.
  Facts that would help us help you better:  How long have you had the =
piano, who plays the piano and why, what restorative work has been done =
to the piano, either by you ($523) or previous owners.  What are your =
goals for the piano (or its replacement), what is your budget.
  The odds are against a 115-year-old piano holding up better than a new =
one, unless you plan to spend more thatn the cost of a new one on =
restoration.  The truth is, all pianos require regular maintenance, and =
without it they "don't hold up".
  You ought to consider having a piano technician who is =
knowledgeable/skilled in repairs and rebuilding evaluate your piano and =
present some options.  It will cost some money just to get the =
evaluation, but in the long run could save you a bundle. =20
  Find a technician here:  =
http://www.ptg.org/findATechnician.php?PHPSESSID=3D6cb955a538d0741f2597f0=
e6259fe9a8

  hope this helps

  Mike

    ----- Original Message -----=20
    From:=20
    To: pianotech@ptg.org
    Sent: 11/16/2005 11:48:55 AM=20
    Subject: Hairline cracks in Treble Bridge



    I have an 1890 Sohmer Upright (55").  After having it tuned I =
started hearing an annoying vibrating sound out of the F Key above =
middle C.  My tuner came back out to investigate and found some hairline =
cracks in the upper part of the treble bridge.  He called a few people =
whom he trusts for bridge rebuilding.  His plan was to remove the half =
of the treble bridge with the cracks and send it off to be used as a =
model to rebuild a new one and put the new one in for me.  But everyone =
was booked well into next year. =20
    So he found out about a gentleman who does Epoxy repair.  He himself =
has never done this type of repair with epoxy but after speaking with =
this man and watching his video he feels confident that he can repair =
the hairline cracks with epoxy.  I am wanting to know the pros and cons =
to doing such a repair.  Can you also tell me the pros and cons to =
removing the half of the treble bridge with the hairline cracks and =
sending it away to be used as a model to build a new half and putting in =
a new half bridge in instead.=20
    I have recently put $523 worth of repairs into this piano.  I am =
wondering if I should even do the treble bridge repair and if so which =
way to go.  The tone in this piano sounds really great to me and my =
daughter.  I hear so many bad things about newer pianos not holding up =
well.  So could any of you advise me on this matter.  I am concerned =
about the epoxy method causing any problems with the tone and sound.  =
Plus will the pins be glued in?  Would that cause problems later on?
    Thanks.

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