Agraffes

[c18cont]

Just a Question,

My Richard Lipp and Sons, 6'1"..(Which I sold, as it was necessary it be re-built, as it was in very bad shape...)...had agraffes all the way to the top instead of the capo seen in most piano's..(Remember it was old Europe, (1880s) so it was 85 note and two pedal..)

Anyone know anything about the agraffes to the top...reasons..use etc? Anyone see pianos with no capo bar before?

It has been re-built, but I havn't seen it yet, as it is a couple of hours away from me...The guy is said to have spent a real fortune at a major re-builder..perhaps I can see it and find out a bit about the rebuild....If so I'll report sometime..)

Just curious about the agraffes......

Thanks...Best,  John Cont

[iumonito]

I think Bosendorfers have individual agraffes in lieu of a capo bar.  I think the idea is that you get a cleaner sound, if not as powerfull.

[c18cont]

Thanks iumonito,

Thought you might have a comment, as you are obviously well up on the technology. thanks for MANY interesting items on the forum...!

Best,  John Cont

[iumonito]

Not really, but I talk out of my ears about stuff I don't really understand.   

[c18cont]

Indeed,...

Well, seems you have an excellent grasp of technique and technology for someone actually educated in another field of expertise...I suspect you do indeed love the art you have selected...

John Cont

[G.Fiore]

 Bösendorfer does not use full treble agraffes. They use a removable capo bar that is screwed to the plate. This creates greater acoustic separation from the plate, and enhances treble tone and sustain. It also facilitates restringing in the future. Bechstein however used full treble agraffes in their grands and verticals. Now with the redesign of their grands they are using a capo in the highest two treble sections.
 Many European makes used full treble agraffes. To name a few oldies, Broadwood, Pleyel, Erard, and Ibach. There are also some very old steinway models that used full treble agraffes.
 The function of full treble agraffes was to provide a better means of termination of the strings, to increase sustain, and to eliminate false beats caused by the wear of the strings at the capo. When a capo is used, after many years of tuning, the strings wear a groove which can cause false beats and tuning difficulties.

[iumonito]

Thanks Curry, I must be mistaken.  I would have sworn I have seen Bose's without capo d'astro bar and only agraffes.  I must be confused.

[G.Fiore]

 You may have seen one manufactured before 1900 that had full agraffes, but not the current production.