Steinway O Redesign

[Ron Nossaman]

>     The O I'm currently ushering out the door this week has a 
>> redesigned board . I added a modest straight cutoff bar. I also added 
>> an extra rib for more support in the treble so that in the first capo 
>> section there are three ribs supporting the killer octave.  These 
>> taller less wide ribs are also fanned into  the treble.
> 
> 
> I believe all are worthwhile initiatives, the cut-off really helps the 
> mid section of the treble bridge to gain in stiffness, improving the 
> tonal focus - removing that boomy undertone that can often be heard in 
> the middle register. It also results in shortened middle order ribs 
> which have more of a chance of surviving more just the first few seasons.

Altogether good stuff.


> The first capo section for most conventionally bellied instruments, 
> including the O, is the most grossly overloaded section of the entire 
> board. The addition of an extra rib provides not only extra stiffness 
> but extra mass. The mass increase will almost certainly help to yield 
> more sustain.

As will the stiffness. In that part of the scale, stiffness still 
has more affect than mass.


> Indeed, when we added rib extensions (which significantly increased the 
> overall rib height) to the 1968 CF Yamaha we rebuilt recently, the 
> increase in sustain in the first capo section was most noticeable. 
> Strangely enough, it seemed to have improved power also. I can only put 
> this down to the possibility that the stiffer/heavier panel had improved 
> efficiency relative to the standard item. Theoretically, if the sustain 
> is increased, the power at the first part of tonal development should 
> decrease.

I've noticed this too. My current thinking is that the dieing of 
tone in the middle of the envelope is more noticeable than the high 
volume in the attack. A lower attack volume, and a higher middle 
volume is perceived as a more powerful tone. At least that's 
Thursday's take. We tend to evaluate impressions of the total, 
rather than to break it down chronologically.


>>   In the best pianos you & I have heard, the tone floats & lingers 
>> with a great bloom . I am very pleased this board design really makes 
>> the O sing with more power clarity & sustain than any I've heard..
> 
> 
> Its a wonderful thing.

'Tis, and doable. I'm hooked.

Ron N