Hello Listers,
Some time ago (you know, as time goes by...) we had an interesting discussion about some trouble I had with a Steinway model A.
Just to remind you all (y'all) what the problem was with the instrument:
The sound in the third string section, counted from left to right (octave c''to about e''') was very very bad.
I was called in by a piano dealer (not a Steinway dealer) because he had installed new original Steinway hammers and he wanted me to regulate and voice the grand.
At first, I noticed that the hammerline of the brand new hammers was not correct at all, so I started doing hammer travel and spacing, followed by a correction of the hammershanks in the treble to the desired length, and this took me some time as you understand (...so glad somebody finally understands).
After having done this, I took a long time for regulation, tuning and first voicing.
By then it was about 4 in the afternoon and I began to worry about that particular trouble section in the treble....my treble was in trouble!!
Actually, this Steinway A now had a pretty good touch and it sounded pretty good too! except for that one section.
At that moment on that afternoon, I was tired and a bit unhappy..as you can imagine.
I told the owner of the shop that I was not trough with this one, and that I would ask around.
Which I did, because I put my problem before you guys and gals, and I received some really good answers. See..never too old to learn >(loin..my wife happens to be from NYC..haha).
Anyway, shortly afterwards (that time again!), I was in the Steinway factory in Hamburg and I had quite a long discussion about this special case.
I think that I now have a better understanding about why that string section sounded so bad.
I learned in Hamburg that with this model A, it is often necessary to change the hammerline in that particular string section, and not just 1 mm or so, but sometimes 2 mm or even more!
After having learned about this, I thought that it would be helpful to tell my colleagues on the list about it.
So...if you work on an older Steinway model A (in this case, made in Hamburg), and you have a problem in the third string section, counted from left to right (octave c''to about e'''), then I hope that you will remember my tiny story.
No no! thank you..that's fine! this time without charge....
Friendly greetings from :
CONCERT PIANO SERVICE
André Oorebeek
Amsterdam, the Netherlands
‰ where MUSIC is no harm can be ‰
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