Wurzen felt

[Robin Hufford]

John,
     How could you be so careless?  You didn't move the bridge around or change
the scale?  Why didn't you redesign it?  Think what is happening!  Heaven forbid,
it might actually sound like a Steinway, and be beautiful at that,  - how could
you have thought they had a piano worthy of emulation with all of their
deficiencies?   I know, certainly,  you would have corrected the crippling
backscales lengths if you could just have found the money for a new grinder -
think, how much better it might have been - even if people think so we know it
doesn't sound good, don't we?  What an opportunity lost.  Then the rib placements
and the cut-off bar- didn't you know that Steinway has never even used one on a
grand and that the ribs are hopeless?  Now look what has happened -     People
are actually creating the illusion in their minds that they like it just so they
can avoid facing its real flaws, not taking responsibility for themselves,  and,
heaven again forbid, having a new thoughts!  Surely, you must feel guilty for
doing this to them.  I certainly hope so. If you would just turn to "modern"
methods you could get a piano that people would not only have the illusion they
like, but, guess what, pay you over a billion dollars each to hear!
Regards, Robin Hufford

John Hartman wrote:

> David C. Stanwood wrote:
>
> >   There is a recording made at Elon College NC on a Steinway D 1926 that
> > you put a beautiful beautiful board in...  John Foy, the rebuilder,
> > requested a TopHigh hammer weight when I designed touch weight components.
> > This piano is VERY popular.  Ruth Laredo raved about it etc....  There is a
> > recording recently made with this piano and the tone is vibrant, and as
> > varied as a painters palette.  I'll get more information on this if anyone
> > on the list wants to order it and have listen...
>
> Thanks David but I am sure I had nothing to do with its success. Surly
> someone has rectified all my mistakes. Having read many of the posts
> here about the marvels of piano re-engineering from the most notable
> rebuilders around I now know that if you want to have any success form a
> Steinway D you must do a lot more than I did. Shame on me but I didn't
> redesign the string scale or move the bridge. Nor did I do anything
> about the absurdly short back string lengths (I am just scared to death
> of the sparks from a metal grinder). I am sure John Foy spent a lot of
> time redoing my work. What did he do about the soundboard? I now realize
> that the steinway people had no idea how to build a soundboard. Gosh, I
> didn't even install a longer cut-off bar or move the position of the ribs!
>
> John Hartman RPT
>
> John Hartman Pianos
[link redacted at request of site owner - Jul 25, 2015]
> Rebuilding Steinway and Mason & Hamlin
> Grand Pianos Since 1979
>
> Piano Technicians Journal
> Journal Illustrator/Contributing Editor
[link redacted at request of site owner - Jul 25, 2015]
>
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