Hi All,  In a letter to Rick Inzero, I wrote, "Get a new control cable
from APSCO.  The Control is part number 031207 and the list price is
$32.00.  APSCO's control cables are like the shifter cables on a good
ten-speed bike."

That comment is actually in error.  The cable from APSCO is actually
much better than a bicycle cable.  Here's why.

A bicycle cable requires termination at both ends to maintain the
stability of the cable.  The cable from APSCO only requires two
horseshoe wire nails to hold it to the side of the piano.

The only similarity to a bicycle shifter cable is the shifter device
itself, which looks like the gear shifter.  Also, bicycle cables are
typically braided wire, not solid wire.  Therefore, they can not 'push'
the mandolin 'up'.  They must be installed to 'lift' the rail.  If you
visualize that in your mind, you see that a bicycle cable would have
to make a 'U-Turn' at the rail end so it 'pulls' the rail up.  And
even though a bicycle cable is flexible enough to make the U-Turn,
it complicates the job beyond need.  A solid wire cable, like APSCO's
is a straight shot.

I've installed lots of APSCO's cables.  It takes only a few minutes
(if the actions are out of the way) and they are extremely reliable.

Musically,

John A. Tuttle