compression vs rib crowning

[Brian Trout]

Hi Dave,

I have heard a few of those old boards that sounded ok to me.  But most have 
not been to my liking.  I have never visited southern California, though, so 
I can't speak specifically to what you might hear.

Just as an example, there was a small grand piano that went through the shop 
a few years ago.  Through the course of repairs being done to it, a new set 
of replacement hammers was installed.  All in the shop thought it sounded 
pretty good.  It went home.  The owner HATED it!  What had we done to KILL 
his piano??  One of the techs went out and 'juiced' the hammers.  It was 
better, but still not good enough.  More 'juice'.  A little better, but 
still not good enough.  Finally, in desparation, (all the while having the 
final payment for services held by said owner,) the tech loaded the top 
octave or so of hammers with super glue.  That pretty much made the customer 
happy and ended an unpleasant ordeal.  It's sad.

I think you probably know what that piano sounds like.  That's what that 
person liked hearing.  I found it distasteful and downright annoying.

"The classic Steinway sound", that of the 100 year old boards is quite 
attractive to some people.  And I have no problem with that.  It isn't so 
attractive to me.  It's kinda like the alternative temperament tunings.  
Some people really like them.  My ear doesn't.  I'm not going to say either 
group is wrong in what they like to hear.  I know what I like.  It may be 
different than what others may like.  I prefer the sound of a new board made 
in such a way as having lots of sustain, some power but not too much, very 
soft hammers, and a rather dark, extremely full bodied tone.  That's what I 
like.  Some people would probably hate that.  (I'm sorry I can't give a 
better idea by my words what I like to hear.)

I'm wierd, what can I say.


Brian T.






>From: David Andersen <bigda@gte.net>
>Reply-To: Pianotech <pianotech@ptg.org>
>To: Pianotech <pianotech@ptg.org>
>Subject: Re: compression vs rib crowning
>Date: Tue, 11 Mar 2003 11:45:12 -0700
>Hi, Brian----every set of ears a planet.  For me, hearing a 100-year-old
>board that has been preserved in a steady RH state---a Mediterranean
>climate, such as we have here in SoCal---and with everything else on the
>piano operating fairly well----is one of the pleasures of my life.  I
>sincerely wish you could come to where I live; I would take you on a tour 
>of
>75-100 year-old boards in Steinways that, to me, sound much better,
>stronger, clearer, more resonant than almost any replacement board I've
>heard.  I absolutely cannot understand the dogmatic opinion of some that a
>board is automatically toast after a certain chronological deadline---I can
>only surmise that the holders of said dogma are allowing their desire to 
>get
>paid (for installing new boards)to override their ability to hear
>beauty.....
>
>David Andersen
>
>_______________________________________________
>pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives


_________________________________________________________________
The new MSN 8: advanced junk mail protection and 2 months FREE*  
http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail