Dear Avery; Steinway teaches that their intent is for the pedal to shift the action just one-half of a string width. This way, the string moves from the harder, packed down striking groove, to the softer area between the string grooves. Since this area can be voiced softer, the tonal possibilities are increased. They also angle the left side of the plain wire hammers, so the left-most string sort of hangs out over the edge of the hammer during soft playing. At least, that is what they taught when I attended their Factory Service Seminar, and in their Concerts and Artists Division program at Steinway Hall. If the hammers are not spaced properly to the strings, this may not work. And some pianos have bass string-hammer angles just right (i.e. wrong), particularly in the bass, so that certain types of spacings, and voicing will not work well for that particular piano. Other manufacturers have other recommendations and intentions for their own pianos, and I am sure you will gather a number of differing opinions in the responses you receive. There is more than one way to do it, of course, and different methods will work better on different pianos. Randy Potter, R.P.T.
This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC