This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment MessageHello Alan and List I really would like some amplification on the subjects of: 1. String seating 2. Bridge pin stabilisation Any offers? Regards from Sussex Michael G.(UK) ----- Original Message -----=20 From: Alan=20 To: 'Pianotech'=20 Sent: Sunday, March 06, 2005 6:08 AM Subject: RE: Modern Tone II, the Return of the Question David, et al, Well said.=20 I DID play the '28 D that you and Dale had in Sacramento (already = posted a comment to Dale). I sat down at that piano and the first thing = I played was an octave in the low bass. It was the most beautiful sound = I've ever heard from a piano, bar none, I exaggerate not. Please understand that I live in that mysterious part of the world = where old Lesters, Winters, Wurlys, Chicks, Gulbransens, and Starks come = to die. I tune 3 small Steinway grands, one new (Chinese) Steck grand, = one (bless them) nice M&H, a couple of older small Baldwin grands, and a = boatload of Hamilton studios (some nearly new, one that served on Noah's = cruise ship, I think, and was worn out then). Only the Mason is big = enough and nice enough to qualify as an RPT test piano and I've only = seen it once, so far. So I can sure hear and appreciate good voicing but, as you say, it is = hard to communicate with words. And I only have an intellectual, = theoretical idea how it's produced, not the skills to do it.=20 I'm going to spend time in Frank Henderson's shop doing some work in = exchange for some coaching on this. I honestly think voicing is a skill = that cannot be learned from a book and on one's own. I don't think one = can one acquire those "ears" without hearing pianos and experiencing the = difference with a guide at your side. At least, not I. Hope you didn't think my comment was a negative reaction to your = post--I actually liked the sound of your words. But how does that all = sound in a piano? Ahhh .... maybe like that bass octave in California.=20 Hey, I liked the racing stripes, too. (Now everyone will be asking you = what the heck THAT means!) Alan R. Barnard Salem, MO P.S. Part of my pursuit of this at this time is a desire to rescue an = area Methodist church from the shrill, busy, ultra-bright, piercing, = stident, trident (gummed up) sound of the little Samick SG-172 grand = they bought. I'm pretty sure it's going to start with some serious = string seating, bridge pin stabilization, and regulation--followed by a = session in the back room with those hammers ... under a bright light ... = with a rubber hose and brass knuckles, to soften them up. I don't THINK = I could make it worse, even with what I know, now. And, no, there are = no other guild techs within two hours of here and no local yokels I'd = want to invite to help. I am alllllll aloooooooone here in the elephant = ivory graveyard. -----Original Message----- From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] = On Behalf Of David Andersen Sent: Saturday, March 05, 2005 11:22 PM To: Pianotech Subject: Re: Modern Tone II, the Return of the Question 4. For those with limited experience and little opportunitity to = mentor with someone, terms like "large, dark, powerful, clear, and = throaty, with roar and snap at double or triple forte, but NEVER clangy = or distorted" just leave one guessing as to what they mean. I assume = that "dark" means power in the lower partials not overshadowed by the = higher ones (?) but I'd be guessing about that "roar and snap" thing. = This isn't to criticize David's description, merely to point out the = difficulties and frustrations of communicating sensory perceptions = through verbage. I've watch Roger Jolly and Ari Issac do some voicing = and marveled at what they can do and how well they do it. But even = trying, in person, to demonstrate and teach voicing to a room full of = people seems very challenging: "See, the sound is now a broad 'Ohhhhh' = instead of an "Ehhhhh and it sits higher against on the shelf." (Made = part of that up .... sorry) I think it's like people describing wines without giving you a = sip: Yes, and this vintage is drier than a moselle, slightly nutty, with = just a hint of the vine not revealed in the bouqet unless consumed at = midnight in a graveyard while holding a dead cat. Alan R. Barnard Always Studyin' but Not Always Gettin' It in Salem, MO My friend---I=92m just trying to give words to an aural phenomenon, = and it=92s tough, but that=92s what =93developing a tonal memory=94 = means: developing an internal sense of how a piano is =93supposed=94 to = sound at all volume and attack levels. If you played the concert grands = that Dale Erwin and I brought to the Sacramento PTG Convention, I can = say that both of those pianos are in the ballpark of what most artists, = technicians, and serious listeners would describe as achieving the = sonority of the 40=92s and 50=92s pianos---powerful and clear, without = distortion or a brittle quality. There I go again :--) The CDs I mentioned in an earlier post are a good indication of what = I=92m trying to put in words. If we=92d met in Sacramento, I would have = given you a CD that I had a few copies of there---an amazing young jazz = player named Tamir Hendelman, playing trio versions of Christmas songs = on a 1923 long A my shop rebuilt. That piano is a touch brighter, but = sounds like a Bill Evans record, which nearly always had imeccably tuned = and voiced pianos. It=92s a lifetime of listening and learning. I still feel like a = rank novice a lot of the time. Voicing is a noble challenge. It demands that so many things about = the piano be right. When you become passionate about the voice of the instrument, your = toleration of unregulated and unprepared pianos becomes slimmer and = slimmer, and your business changes. This coming week, 4 of the 5 days = are one long day, or 2 long days, with a good grand piano. It wasn=92t = like that 6 or 7 years ago; it was much more tuning 3 or 4 pianos a day. = As my ears have grown, my practice has grown and improved.=20 -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.5.7 - Release Date: = 03/01/2005 -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.5.7 - Release Date: 03/01/2005 ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/pianotech.php/attachments/3d/fc/90/e1/attachment.htm ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment--
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