Of course this can be done. The questions are simply how and what will it cost? But I do have to ask why you want larger hammers in the high treble? Do you really like that thuddy, hammer knocking sound that simply overpowers any musical tone that might otherwise be present? If so, there might be other ways of getting it. Second, I to have heard many pianos using agrafes up through the treble with unsatisfactory tone. In general, however, once the soundboard is replaced with one actually designed to respond to the high-frequency energy of the strings and the piano is given a decent string scale (which almost always involves replacing the bridges) they work quite nicely. Power, sustain and timbre are easily comparable to the average capo tastro systems. In other words, it was not the agrafe system that was limiting the performance. (Having said this I must point out that there are some agrafe systems that are better than others and I don't remember just what the H&D design is like.) Third, a lot of the developmental and experimental work I've done over the years has been based on the nagging question of "why not?" So that one I can readily understand and it may well outweigh questions one and two. ddf _____ From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Gene Nelson Sent: February 02, 2009 4:44 PM To: pianotech at ptg.org Subject: Re: [pianotech] re design Hi Paul, But why? Are there problems with the existing agraffes? <The biggest issue is that I like a bigger hammer in the high treble - not possible with the agraffe. Second is that I have not heard too many pianos with agraffes at the top that I like the tone. Third, it is my spec piano and just the challenge is intriguing. There are many other custom features and "why not" is nagging at me. I had also thought about installing the capo and using half agraffes on the bottom side of it. Obviously I will need some engineering assistance if I decide to do the redesign. Personally, me, I like agraffes to the top. And would not redesign for a capo bar. It was Erard's solution to the economics of agraffes, and not a design for the better necessarily. <I like Erards. Gene Cheers, Paul In a message dated 2/2/2009 4:54:09 P.M. Central Standard Time, nelsong at intune88.com writes: Thanks Paul, I will be a bit more specific. I have a 1880's Hallet&Davis 8'9" that will come into the shop soon. Much of the belly work has been completed. It has agraffe's up through note #88. I had considered the possibility of installing a capo bar to replace the agraffes. Either in just the top or top two sections. I am curious if any living techs that read the forum have had experience with similar redesign issues. I have looked at Bosendorfer closely and think that a similar type of bar is possible. Regards, Gene ----- Original Message ----- From: PAULREVENKOJONES at aol.com To: pianotech at ptg.org Sent: Monday, February 02, 2009 11:20 AM Subject: Re: [pianotech] re design Why yes, Gene, Erard did just this in about 1811. :-) Paul In a message dated 2/2/2009 1:00:34 P.M. Central Standard Time, nelsong at intune88.com writes: Hello list, Just curious if anyone out there has had the chance to design and install successfully - a capo bar/s that would take the place of and eliminate agraffes in the top section/s above the dampers? Anyone ever consider doing this? Thanks, Gene _____ Great <http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100000075x1217883258x1201191827/aol?redir=http:// www.dell.com/content/products/features.aspx/laptops_great_deals?c=us%26cs=19%26l =en%26s=dhs%26~ck=anavml> Deals on Dell Laptops. Starting at $499. _____ Great <http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100000075x1217883258x1201191827/aol?redir=http:// ad.doubleclick.net/clk;211531132;33070124;e> Deals on Dell Laptops. Starting at $499. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://ptg.org/pipermail/pianotech_ptg.org/attachments/20090202/7be0a679/attachment-0001.html>
This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC