On Mar 14, 2009, at 10:08 AM, Jeff Tanner wrote: > The only accepted advances in organ have been the electric motor to > produce the air, but most traditional instruments are still operated > by mechanical action -- traditionalists still reject the electric > keyboard as a means of operating the pipes, even though there is no > discernable difference in tone. Interesting points, Jeff. However I learned at the C. B. Fisk factory that the reason for the continued popularity of the tracker design over electromechanical has nothing to do with the tone -- they still make their own lead/tin alloy and handcraft pipes with it -- but rather with the greater control in this design over how a pipe begins to speak, and how it shuts off. Advances in material science can improve old designs, using almost the same blueprints. Fisk uses carbon fiber linkage rods for valves a long way from the console, to reduce mass. I applaud Kawai and Mason- Hamlin for using modern materials to improve the reliability and longevity of action parts, as well as lightening the reciprocating mass. Mason-Hamlin's anodizing treatment for capstans and now key pins to prevent friction buildup from corrosion is huge. But I agree, this is nothing like the current wave of soundboard redesign with floating bass, treble fish, and careful rib design. --Cy-- Cy Shuster, RPT ABQ, NM www.shusterpiano.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://ptg.org/pipermail/caut_ptg.org/attachments/20090314/d7e28b83/attachment-0001.html>
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