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Black bridge cap

  • 1.  Black bridge cap

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 09-23-2018 12:47
      |   view attached
    I've never seen a black bridge cap before.


  • 2.  RE: Black bridge cap

    Posted 09-23-2018 13:01
    Is graphite anathema?

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    Benjamin Sloane
    Cincinnati OH
    513-257-8480
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  • 3.  RE: Black bridge cap

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 09-23-2018 16:01
    What brand piano? Was this a rebuilt?

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    Willem "Wim" Blees, RPT
    Mililani, HI 96789
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  • 4.  RE: Black bridge cap

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 09-23-2018 20:09
    How does it sound? Interesting that the rear aliquot area is muted out.

    Pwg

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    Peter Grey
    Stratham NH
    603-686-2395
    pianodoctor57@gmail.com
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  • 5.  RE: Black bridge cap

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 09-23-2018 20:53
    Sauter? I think they have been using ebony for bridge caps.

    ddf

    --
    Delwin D Fandrich
    Fandrich Piano Company, Inc.
    Piano Design and Manufacturing Consulting Services -- Worldwide
    6939 Foothill Ct SW -- Olympia, WA 98512 -- USA
    Phone 360.515.0119 -- Mobile 360.388.6525





  • 6.  RE: Black bridge cap

    Posted 09-23-2018 20:57
    Notice also the angled notches on the bridge and the tilted strut on the left .Or is this some weird camera distortion?

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    Ed Sutton
    ed440@me.com
    (980) 254-7413
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  • 7.  RE: Black bridge cap

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 09-24-2018 08:55
    It looks to me like either a Steinway C or Baldwin SD-6 (not sure of this one) with angled notches and aliquots. Perhaps someone decided to use ebony for re-capping.

    Pwg


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    Peter Grey
    Stratham NH
    603-686-2395
    pianodoctor57@gmail.com
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  • 8.  RE: Black bridge cap

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 09-24-2018 11:41
    Thanks for your comments.?? The piano is a Steinway D.?? It has been
    rebuilt a few years ago, before my clients bought it.?? It sounds fine.??
    I don't know what the bridge cap is made of.?? I muted the duplex because
    it was very audible and the client noticed.?? I think my camera may have
    distorted the appearance of it.?? It looked pretty normal in person.




  • 9.  RE: Black bridge cap

    Member
    Posted 09-24-2018 12:05
    Interesting,,, 

    I have done the unison patch with West Systems epoxy and their graphite filler. The filler is used for air foiling hydroplanes. The lack of friction and the compressive strength of steel seemed to be what was needed to prevent the wire from indenting the cap too deeply and adds strength at the pin. 
    I also think the hardness would transmit the vibrations more efficiently
    I wish I had done the whole cap like this one. I painted the cap and then notched. The resulting dust tainted the wood.

    Maybe the cap was not replaced. Perhaps the original cap was coated to fill the wire depressions and build the cap back the mm that was lost. Then drive in new pins with epoxy and finish the notches too.

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    Keith Roberts
    owner
    Hathaway Pines CA
    209-728-2163
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  • 10.  RE: Black bridge cap

    Member
    Posted 09-24-2018 12:17
    Curious question.
    Instead of muting,,, why not attempt to tune the back scale?
    It is supposed to be tuned,, yes?
    Enhance the sound of the whole wire.

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    Keith Roberts
    owner
    Hathaway Pines CA
    209-728-2163
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  • 11.  RE: Black bridge cap

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 09-26-2018 09:48
    I am a bit confused here. Does anyone else share my confusion (or is it just me)?

    Pwg

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    Peter Grey
    Stratham NH
    603-686-2395
    pianodoctor57@gmail.com
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