> So, I don't think there is any one answer to your question. Yeah, but you gave me lots of good ones. Thanks very much. > Just how big was that Bergman? Not sure what you are getting at here. Similar to the Walter. 6' 3" or so. But based on your other comments, I believe you answer will be that the actions in the Walter and Bergman, having been optimized, will perform to a similar standard. Thanks for your input. I had a question that was difficult to express. I realize that I basically asked the same question 4 times. I'm not sure I accuratey conveyed what I was asking (my fault). But nevertheless, I do believe you have answered my question. Terry Farrell ----- Original Message ----- From: "Delwin D Fandrich" <pianobuilders@olynet.com> To: <pianotech@ptg.org> Sent: Tuesday, September 25, 2001 1:22 AM Subject: Re: Basic Action Design/Performance Question > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Farrell" <mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com> > To: <pianotech@ptg.org> > Sent: September 24, 2001 5:57 AM > Subject: Basic Action Design/Performance Question > > > > Is there inherently any difference between improved versions of grand > > actions? > > Not that I'm aware of. Or between unimproved versions of grand actions, for > that. Now, having said that, with one or two notable exceptions I would > expect to find action regulation being done a bit better on a more expensive > piano. It isn't always, but I'd expect it. Action regulation is one of the > very few piano building functions left machines haven't been taught to do. > And, presumably, the manufacturer of the more expensive piano should be able > to devote the time to do this operation right. > > > > > > I know that a new Bechstein or Walter action may well play better > > than your average new Samick or Bergman - but isn't a lot of that inferior > > materials, glues, manufacturing, etc.? > > Or good materials not properly conditioned. We seem to go through this with > each new country piano manufacturing spreads to. It takes them a while to > learn the value of wood moisture control. But sticking to two of your > examples, just what is the difference between the Bechstein Renner action > and the Samick Renner action? Mostly how well set-up and regulated they are > at the factory. > > > > > > Take two divergent actions from > > similar sized pianos - a Walter and a Bergman. Now give both actions to > the > > Willis & David Snyder shop & David Stanwood. Let them replace any parts > they > > want and optimize all they will. Now I realize the Bergman action will > still > > seem bad when it is placed into the Bergman cavity - but let's just assume > > that Del Fandrich (or whoever) works all kinds of magic and somehow > > reproduced a Walter-like grand belly within the Bergman frame (ok, ok, > just > > stretching it a bit, but this is an action question - use your > imagination). > > Now you are putting these two actions into similar pianos. Can they both > > play to a similar potential? > > Just how big was that Bergman? > > > > > > I hope this doesn't sound like too goofy a question. I guess I'm asking > > whether a Young Chang (or whatever generally viewed lower quality action) > > can be made to play as well as any good quality action (neglecting the > > difference in pianos - which I fully realize can dramatically affect the > way > > an action performs)? > > I don't see why not. I certainly have my preferences on some of the > details--I like laminated wood action rails and slightly firmer action felts > than are typical on most actions. I also prefer hard maple to hornbeam. But > I don't know just how important these things are to the average player. The > rest is in the setup and balancing and you've said we can change that. > > > > > > Does this make any sense? Perhaps I am asking "besides material quality, > > design, manufacturing, etc. (and the piano it is installed in), is there > > anything else (magical?) about an action that makes one superior to > another > > one? > > Along with the homogenization of piano design has come an even greater > degree of homogenization in actions. Just how much difference in design is > left? > > Look at the pianos we rebuild from the first half of the 20th century; all > kinds of different and unique actions. Each with its own flavor and feel. > Now look at the pianos of today. Most so-called high-end pianos use Renner > actions--as do many low- and mid-range pianos--with only minor variations in > how they are set up. And those Renner action of today are patterned after > the Steinway butterfly spring action. And most manufacturers using their own > actions have also adapted this standardized format. > > It's kind of like an auto industry with each manufacturer having its own > slight variation of just one single engine design. Think what it would be > like if every car you looked at came with just the one size and type of > engine block. Perhaps you could get different cylinder heads (hammers) from > each different manufacturers (though even those would come from just two > different factories) and maybe even a different transmission (keys) which, > again, would come from just a couple of different suppliers, but the engine > block would be the same for each. There would, of course, be a couple of > very large manufacturers who were willing to devote the resources to > manufacture their own engines, heads and transmissions but for reasons of > conformity to the industry standard they also would build engines that > looked and performed just like all the others. Our choices of individual > performance levels would be greatly diminished. > > We've nearly reached this point in the piano industry. I don't see a lot of > differences among the various manufacturers actions. > > > > > > I have heard before - "Well, Mrs. Pianobuyer, that piano is not a > > Steenburger, and it will never play like a Steenburger." Is that because > the > > seller does not know how to do it? Does not think it is worth the money to > > do it? Or that it can't be done? > > In some cases I think it's a matter of not knowing how to do a thing. Piano > manufacturers get caught up in the business of manufacturing and lose track > of what it is they are supposed to be doing--building musical instruments. > I've had factory managers tell me that if the price is low enough it doesn't > matter how well the piano works--somebody will buy it. > > So, I don't think there is any one answer to your question. > > Del >
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