False Beats / Loose pins

[David Ilvedson]

Wouldn't you think was the exception not the rule?   A false beat  from a loose bridge pin is only going to happen if the pin is moving and creating two speaking lengths in the string...I think...possibly your big bridge pin was loose but not moving?

David Ilvedson, RPT
Pacifica, California



----- Original message ----------------------------------------
From: "Ric Brekne" <ricbrek at broadpark.no>
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Received: 4/5/2006 7:17:02 AM
Subject: False Beats / Loose pins


>Hi Folks

>Ran into a classic example today of why I am skeptical to the idea that 
>loose bridge pins are the direct cause of false beats.  This was a small 
>Bosendorfer grand 170ish in size and getting old. I can get the 
>particulars if anyone wants them after Easter.  There were loose pins 
>all over the place and particularilly in the upper treble. Good sized 
>hairline cracks around the bridge pins here and there, lots of space on 
>the string side of the pin between the pin and wood of the bridge pin 
>holes.  I loosened a few strings just to be sure and you could pull the 
>pins out with your fingers.  Now if that dont fit the description of 
>loose pins I dont know what does.  However.... this was one of the 
>cleanest sounding pianos I've ever come across.  False beats of the sort 
>being identified with loose pins were virtually non existant, and for 
>that matter there wasnt a whole lot of falsness of anykind.

>The only marked difference between this instrument and most that I see 
>was the diameter of the bridge pins.  They were big and looked to be the 
>same size over the entire long bridge. I didnt have my micrometer along 
>today, but they were the size you usually see in the bass bridge on most 
>instruments.

>So you tell me... loose pins are the direct cause of false beats ??? 
>Then how do you explain this instrument ? Its not the only example I can 
>pluck ... but its about the most pronounced I've found up to now.

>Cheers
>RicB