[pianotech] bushings migrating

[Joe DeFazio]

Hi Laura,

If you and your client decide to treat this problem in a serious way,  
including reshaping or replacing hammers and restringing the treble  
(all good ideas), I would urge you to take a hard look at the capo bar  
(bring a mirror and flashlight).  Reshaping it to be a more gentle  
curve can be beneficial in allowing the string to make its change of  
direction over a slightly larger radius.  I believe that this can in  
some cases reduce string breakage.  I aim for a gentler curve on the  
tuning pin side of the capo, morphing into a tighter curve at the  
speaking length side of the capo (for cleaner termination).  Reshaping  
the capo also allows you to get rid of string grooves which can cause  
sizzling sounds and may contribute to false beats.  A more pointy capo  
will groove more quickly, and the grooves themselves increase  
friction.  So, it's just good practice to re-dress the capo when  
restringing.  Just don't go too far, as you may reduce downbearing.

Everyone is different, but as for me, I always enjoy a job about 20  
times more if I am doing it with another technician.  It's more fun,  
and both parties usually learn something.  Sometimes I will go to  
assist a less experienced technician, and sometimes I will partner  
with an equally skilled colleague on a job.  Next week, I will bring a  
colleague along for a particular job in which his skills exceed mine -  
I'm quite sure I'll learn something on that job.  I'm not sure of your  
experience level, but if it turns out that you have never done some of  
these things before, I would suggest finding an experienced colleague  
and tackling them together.  Just something to think about.

Good luck with it,

Joe DeFazio
Pittsburgh


On Sep 3, 2009, at 11:07 PM, pianotech-request at ptg.org wrote:

> From: "Laura Read" <lauraread at earthlink.net>
> Date: September 3, 2009 10:39:38 PM EDT
> To: "'David Ilvedson'" <ilvey at sbcglobal.net>, <pianotech at ptg.org>
> Subject: Re: [pianotech] bushings migrating
> Reply-To: pianotech at ptg.org
>
>
> Thanks to all for the info and advice on the C3. And thanks, Bruce,  
> for
> bringing up the subject. I'll have to see how far my client is  
> willing to go
> for a cure.
>
> Laura

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