89 note scale

[Clark]

> Contrary to what Bruce Stevens in Bellflower, CA, says, 88 keys (or
> even 97) just isn't enough for my style of playing. :)

There's a fellow in Oakland, CA whose piano has, well only 106 keys, an
acquaintance forwarded photos a couple weeks ago. It's so cute, I like
it, must be easily impressed since it has but 12% so many as a keyboard
I saw up close several days later. In Vienna, there's one by Könnicke
maybe with 222 keys; I think Sauter's reissue just matches the more
recent Imperial for number of notes. Keys, shmies - I'd be satisfied
with six octaves, even three and a half if they worked. (tension,
schmension...)

> a custom grand piano, say, 14 feet 7 inches long

David Klavins' model 370b stands about 3m tall (ah, it's one of them
little white pie-anners, too). I wonder what he's up to now.

> what books would you recommend I look into buying that could help
> educate me on stringing scales and piano manufacturing?

There's plenty of useful literature, not all of which includes "piano"
to titles. How about texts on algebra and trigonometry to start, along
with Samuel Wolfenden's treatise. Build a nice monochord and play around
with it; instead of the picture book you mentioned, buy some center pins
and reamers, get dirty.


Clark