A tine screw is a machine screw that connects the tine and the tone bar. Its function is to connect these two components of the tone bar assembly. It has a hex screw head, and can be adjusted with a 5/16″ nut driver. It usually has an engraved V on the top face. It is somewhat similar, (but not to be substituted with) a reed bar screw on a Wurlitzer piano.
Adjusting the tine screw is important for proper alignment of the tine in relation to the tone bar. The tine and tone bar should be parallel to eachother, with the pickup being at the centre of the tine at the far end. Loose tine screws can be a cause of ‘dead notes’ or bad voicing.
When replacing a broken tine, removal of the tine screw is necessary to extract the broken tine. The screw can be very tight and removal tricky. When the new tine is in place the screw should be as tight as possible.
