Thanks Will. I usually read about 5 to 8 thousandths with my dial gauge micrometer and wasn't sure if 10 to 12 was too much. Mike, the measurement is within one inch on either side of the bridge. I use a string to set the downbearing, but I like to check it when it's strung with a dial gauge micrometer. The readings are lower on a "B" or "D" of course, but pretty consistent on smaller pianos. After I set the downbearing and restring the piano I usually get about 6 to 8 thousandths in the bass and tenor and about 20 to 25 in the treble with my dial gauge. The reason I need to replace the strings, is someone killed the bass strings by trying to clean them with some kind of cleaner. I decided to replacing the wire strings because I don't want two different size tuning pins and also to replace the agraffes and polish the v-bar which I can do without pulling the plate. Al G -------------------------------------------------- From: "Mike Spalding" <mike.spalding1 at verizon.net> Sent: Thursday, July 30, 2009 7:52 AM To: <pianotech at ptg.org> Subject: Re: [pianotech] Downbearing question > Al, > > Downbearing is an angle, not a linear measure. 10 to 12 thousandths only > has meaning if we know over what length of string it drops 10 to 12 > thousandths. > > That said, if you have some amount of positive downbearing throughout, > then there may be no need to change it. There are a lot of other reasons > to pull the plate during restringing. How is it that this piano needs new > strings, but doesn't need any work on the bridges, agraffes, or v-bar, and > doesn't need a new pinblock? > > Mike > > Al Guecia/AlliedPianoCraft wrote: >> I never got a response to this question. Did my email get through? >> I am restringing a Steinway M. Before I pulled the strings I read a >> composite down bearing of 10 to 12 thousandths across the bass and tenor >> bridges with a dial gauge micrometer. My question is, how much >> downbearing is too much. Is 10 to 12 thousandths too much. At what point >> would it be worth pulling the plate to adjust it. The soundboard and >> bridges are in good condition. >> Al G >
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