[CAUT] Dollies and projection (was Hamburg leg bolt)

[David Ilvedson]

That's the way I remember it...hard surface to reflect the energy back up into the piano...

David Ilvedson, RPT
Pacifica, California



----- Original message ----------------------------------------
From: "Alan McCoy" <amccoy at mail.ewu.edu>
To: "College and University Technicians" <caut at ptg.org>
Received: 5/9/2006 12:56:55 PM
Subject: Re: [CAUT] Dollies and projection (was Hamburg leg bolt)


>Ken,

>In the dim past I remember that demo too now that you mention it. But I took
>it to mean that by getting the piano off the soft mushy carpet and onto a
>harder surface like a caster cup, the sound is reflected back instead of
>being absorbed by the carpet.

>I think it is time to experiment some.

>Alan


>> From: Ken Zahringer <ZahringerK at missouri.edu>
>> Reply-To: "College and University Technicians <caut at ptg.org>" <caut at ptg.org>
>> Date: Tue, 09 May 2006 12:13:24 -0500
>> To: "College and University Technicians <caut at ptg.org>" <caut at ptg.org>
>> Conversation: [CAUT] Dollies and projection (was Hamburg leg bolt)
>> Subject: Re: [CAUT] Dollies and projection (was Hamburg leg bolt)
>> 
>> It is my understanding that a piano projects better when there is NOT solid
>> contact with the floor, in a manner of speaking.
>> 
>> One of the more dramatic demonstrations I have seen was at convention some
>> years back, at Wally Brooks' all-day class.  Near the end of the day, after
>> showing his voicing techniques, he had the piano sounding nice.  Then he put
>> it on caster cups, and it sounded great.  His explanation: we all know that
>> the entire piano resonates, not just the soundboard.  The carpet in the
>> hotel classroom "damped" the leg, preventing it from vibrating freely.  The
>> caster cup, being a hard surface, let the caster roll a bit, and thus let
>> the leg, and I suppose the case as well a little bit, vibrate more freely.
>> That is the real reason for casters - not for moving the piano, but to
>> "uncouple" it from the floor and let the whole thing resonate.  The reason,
>> then, that a spider compromises the sound isn't that the leg is off the
>> floor, but that the leg is stuck in the spider leg plate and can't move.
>> 
>> I don't know of any research directed at this issue, but it makes sense to
>> me.
>> 
>> For what it's worth,
>> Ken Z.
>> 
>> 
>> On 5/9/06 11:44 AM, "Alan McCoy" <amccoy at mail.ewu.edu> wrote:
>> 
>>> Is there a consensus out there that concert instruments project better with
>>> a solid contact to the floor as contrasted with a piano on a dolly (rubber
>>> wheels)? If so, what technique do you use to deal with it? I have several
>>> venues with pianos on dollies. If I can get better tone out of my pianos
>>> simply by making a more solid contact, I'll go home and make some wedges or
>>> whatever tonight! Pronto, rapidisimo, asap.......  Pictures are always nice,
>>> if you have the time.
>>> 
>>> Thanks.
>>> 
>>> Alan
>>> 
>>> 
>>>> From: Jon Page <jonpage at comcast.net>
>>>> Reply-To: "College and University Technicians <caut at ptg.org>" <caut at ptg.org>
>>>> Date: Tue, 09 May 2006 07:09:57 -0400
>>>> To: <caut at ptg.org>
>>>> Subject: [CAUT]  Hamburg leg bolt
>>>> 
>>>> If students are to be moving this piano often, I'd worry more about
>>>> personal injury than tone.
>>>> 
>>>> Definitely get a piano truck!!!   If you want a solid contact to the
>>>> floor for performance then
>>>> make up some hardwood wedges to block under the legs.
>>>> 
>>>> As a side note, when it comes time to remove or install a piano on a truck,
>>>> I have two small wedges (I call them 'Truck Stops') to place under the front
>>>> legs so the back arm does not flip upwards. To remove a truck, place both
>>>> Stops under the front legs and remove the rear leg from the truck.
>>>> When installing,
>>>> place a Stop under each front leg as it is positioned then simply
>>>> swing the rear
>>>> arm under the rear leg.
>>>> -- 
>>>> 
>>>> Regards,
>>>> 
>>>> Jon Page
>>> 
>>> 
>> 
>> -- 
>> Ken Zahringer, RPT
>> Piano Technician
>> MU School of Music
>> 297 Fine Arts
>> 882-1202
>> cell 489-7529
>>