Caster Cups (OK, so it's a bit long...)

[Billbrpt]

In a message dated 5/5/98 11:56:50 AM Central Daylight Time,
pianobuilders@olynet.com writes:

<< I keep hearing how this one new technique or that one little trick is going
to make "a 5'
 grand" sound like "a 6' grand." For some years now I have been studying and
analyzing
 piano design and construction technology in an attempt to understand how
pianos work and how to enhance the performance of pianos.  Moving a piano from
one location to another in a given room will alter the sound field....((snip))
    But placing castor cups -- whether they be hard maple, brass, glass,
plastic or solid
 bloody gold! -- under the castors of a 5' piano sitting on any of these
surfaces will not
 make it sound like 6' piano.  >>

I'm glad to see that at least one person can express his exasperation with
nonsense and misinformation when he sees it and not be threatened by all the
others for saying what he knows to be the truth.

As with many techniques, the difference I can hear with caster cups or support
for a piano on a platform is subtle at best but still worth doing.  I'm with
you however on the "hocus pocus" aspect of certain "fine" or expensive
materials being better than something which is simply functional.

In a home with a beautiful decor, I would be the first to suggest some hand
made hardwood caster cups at $90.00 a set that match the finish of the $35,000
grand piano.  Otherwise, some plastic mass produced cups, some pieces of
plywood or even some no longer used ash trays would have the same effect, and
this time, I will use the abbreviation, IMHO.

Bill Bremmer RPT
Madison, Wisconsin