Grand Regulation Compromises

[Richard Brekne]

Delwin D Fandrich wrote:

> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Overs Pianos" <sec@overspianos.com.au>
> To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
> Sent: November 28, 2001 10:49 PM
> Subject: Re: Grand Regulation Compromises
>
> > After years of regulating performance instruments, and taking note of
> > the preferences of a number of pianists, I have settled on a key dip
> > of 10.25 mm. I have found that a 10.5 dip will yield the occasional
> > "it's too deep" complaint, and vice versa with 10.0 mm. Obviously,
> > the center of 'public preference' has come about in part from the
> > individual's experience with a number of different instruments, but
> > setting the dip to a figure which will satisfy the greatest number of
> > pianist is to be recommended, provided that the action in question
> > will function well at that setting.
> >
>
> Sigh! How things change with time. Or, perhaps I should say, how our
> perceptions change with time.
>
> When I started in this business a key travel of 9.5 mm (0.375") was
> considered the norm and Steinway's 10 mm (0.395") was, by many, considered
> some on the deep side. Time passes and hammers get heavier but our fingers
> didn't get any stronger to compensate so action ratios have to change
> accordingly. Key travel has to increase so we can produce ever-more strident
> and raucous sounds from our pianos without inducing carpel stress syndrome
> in all of the pianists playing these beasts.
>
> Has it occurred to anyone that the pianist might be better off with somewhat
> lighter, more resilient hammers so we could move back toward a more
> realistic key travel? The human hands and fingers can only put up with so
> much abuse beyond which they will ultimately rebel. Even 10 mm of key travel
> should be considered excessive for rapid key work. Sure it takes a bit of
> getting used to now. Most everyone has become used to the massive actions
> required to play today's somewhat less than musical pianos, but give them a
> reasonable alternative and see what happens. (Yes, I've conducted the
> experiments--people really can play the piano with a key travel of 9.0 to
> 9.5 mm. And, when the piano is tonally responsive, they love it!)
>
> Del

Better watch out there Del.... we find ourselves in complete agreement...grin.
Sounds to me like you lean just a tad in the LWHT direction... you do know Ed
personally dont you ?


--
Richard Brekne
RPT, N.P.T.F.
Bergen, Norway
mailto:rbrekne@broadpark.no