Hello , Thanks in your interest, I'd say there is some fine craftsmanship yet but a very few can really design things, and that is understandable. Re-engineering is certainly an option , assuming one knows what he is doing, and even then I suppose there are many parameters unknown. Klaus Fenner does not favor the crowning of the bridge bottom, I guess that if it is supposed to help that is only a very little and only because of the "assembly effect" that certainly play a little role in the soundboard stiffness (as well as the effect of having it glued all around is not it ?) Nowadays theory is still only expecting a result. Yes Stephen have been doing a fine job in 92, and in the near future will be building a 217 model (may be another concert grand too). A web site is planned, but it is not ready yet, very interesting too, a showroom that can allow for technicians meetings, trainings, conferences, will be ready in Paris in September. Then a place will be ready to invite technicians from the whole world !!! Stephen have also been working on the strings quality, he have obtained 3 strings quality that are intended to replace the strings used in historical instruments, Firmini or Poehlman or even modern ones (till 1930 or so). The string problem have always been a big one when rebuilding our French Pleyel and Erard, as the Roslau wire is not really giving that fast stabilization tone (with less power in low partials often )we had in these instruments. The strings made for Stephen are made in slower passes and the number and speed of passes are giving the different qualities he is after. They show a brass/copper plated look, as a product (?) is to be used when annealing (thinning) the wire may be that is the same kind you have on "gold" Mape series. The surface product can be cleaned with scotch Brite if one want the normal aspect. I'll be trying these soon on a 1950 Pleyel grand (Firmini strings) . A complete set of sizes is still expensive around $450 the coils are 250 g I hope! Talking about different qualities, I was not aware of that, but piano wire is annealed in a crystal tool, and when the tool is older the roundness and evenness is less good, that is why Roslau wire is sold in 2 qualities : red, for the less precise one (used annealing crystal tool) and blue for the better one. As I always have used the blue one I was not even knowing these 2 quality . B.T.W. I was told that Delignit pinblocks also have 2 qualities but I guess that have to do with the density, and ply quality ??? (the best one being known as "black quality"). I like Stephen's piano a lot, indeed he designed some very interesting features as a whippen heel that can be regulated in height, "bridge eyelets" in place of agrafes, individual string rest that can be height regulated horizontally, and more - and of course he used some others that where designed by the old masters too. There have been recordings made with it, I'll try to obtain a list of those if some are interested. For sure a web site will be a must for international communication ! With best regards to all. Isaac OLEG Entretien et reparation de pianos. PianoTech 17 rue de Choisy 94400 VITRY sur SEINE FRANCE tel : 033 01 47 18 06 98 fax : 033 01 47 18 06 90 cell: 06 60 42 58 77 > -----Message d'origine----- > De : pianotech-bounces@ptg.org > [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org]De la > part de Ron Overs > Envoye : dimanche 13 avril 2003 08:29 > A : Pianotech > Objet : Re: Killer Octave Question > > > Greg, > > >Ron, > > Does Stephen have a web site wherein we could > check out his ideas. > > BTW I have been meaning to write and tell you how > very much > >I enjoy the Rachmoninoff "Lilacs" CD with Scott Davies and the > >incomparable Overs Piano , 225 (No.3). I've never heard anything > >like it. The clarity and full, round, beautiful tone > throughout the > >scale is fantastic! There are several spots that show off > the action > >repetition quite nicely as well. Well done sir!! Well Done!!! > > > >Best, > >Greg Newell > > Thank you for the feedback. > > I'll find out if Stephen has a website and let you know. Isaac Oleg > sent me some very nice images. I was most impressed with the work. > > Ron O. > -- > _______________________ > > OVERS PIANOS - SYDNEY > Grand Piano Manufacturers > > Web: http://overspianos.com.au > mailto:info@overspianos.com.au > _______________________ > _______________________________________________ > pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives >
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