Moreover, I guess I should ask: If boxwood caps are acoustically superior, why would anyone settle for maple, maple laminated (or reconstituted) or anything else for that matter? My experience with replacing boxwood caps with epoxy hardened or laminated caps has not demonstrated any noticeable drop-off in tone quality. But, subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) things have certainly gotten by me before so--inquiring minds want to know, what's the real story? David Love davidlovepianos at comcast.net www.davidlovepianos.com -----Original Message----- From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of David Love Sent: Monday, June 04, 2007 5:58 PM To: 'Pianotech List' Subject: RE: Ebony bridge caps The mass loading that I've seen, or been party to, seems to be much more substantial than would result from the differences in mass between the two woods. By the time the bridge is notched and considering the generally thin boxwood caps that I've seen, how much difference could there be. Do epoxy-laminated maple caps approach the mass of boxwood, i.e., does the epoxy itself contribute anything substantial or is mass loading with a maple cap a requirement in your view for reasons stated? David Love davidlovepianos at comcast.net www.davidlovepianos.com -----Original Message----- From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Ron Nossaman Sent: Monday, June 04, 2007 4:56 PM To: Pianotech List Subject: Re: Ebony bridge caps > They might have used denser boxwood in the treble to compensate for the > increased bearing and shorter speaking and backscale lengths which, during > expansion, would put a greater amount of compression stress on the cap from > the strings. > > David Love I think it was the sound, but not because Boxwood is harder and the little vibrations do more magic things somehow. Not that harder isn't a good idea, but I think it was, and is, because of the mass. With Boxwood being half again heavier than Maple, the bridge is effectively more heavily mass loaded right at the termination point. That will effect clarity and sustain, as those of us who have mass loaded bridges in the high treble have seen. Incidentally, every wood imaginable has been called boxwood at one time or another. Anyone got a real name for this stuff? Ron N
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