Pianotech

  • 1.  Bass bridge replacement

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 09-06-2021 18:58
    Greetings all. I'm replacing a bass bridge on a 1939 Acrosonic console. The cap has split. Here is my question. Should just replace the cap or make an entire one piece bridge? What is the benefits and troubles with each design. My partner read a piece on the Walters 17 layer bridge. In my ignorance, that sounds like it would impede sound travel not enhance it. I await your learned responses!

    Ed the tuner

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    Edward Mastin
    RPT
    Syracuse NY
    315-422-1291
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  • 2.  RE: Bass bridge replacement

    Member
    Posted 09-07-2021 11:58
    Usually an upright has a cantilever so the bass wires can be longer and the bridge still sits on the ribs and not the rim.
    If the cap is split, I would assume the cantilever glue joints are not in great shape.
    It would best to rebuild the whole assembly,,, possibly restructuring it. Mostly they fall apart when you take the wire off.
    Use glues of high hardness factor.for sound transmission. Epoxy (west systems), Hide glue and tightbond trim and moulding glue are high hardness. Bolduc pin block glue and the titebond stuff Dale Erwin uses are non plastic so when you drill through the glue joints it doesn't gum up the drill bits. Both Bolduc and Erwin will ship some to you.
    If reusing the original bridge parts, It's easier, if they used hide glue, To reglue with a cold hide glue. It has a high hardness and bond with the old glue.

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    Keith Roberts
    owner
    Hathaway Pines CA
    209-770-4312
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  • 3.  RE: Bass bridge replacement

    Posted 09-07-2021 12:27
    Replace the body and cap as a single unit. Once you remove the cap, the body will have pin holes left to fill. You can fashion a suitable new replacement from pin block stock. At this point the piano doesn't have much longer, it's already lived long past its life expectancy.

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    Regards,

    Jon Page
    mailto:jonpage@comcast.net
    http://www.pianocapecod.com
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