Grand Touch

[Ric Brekne]

Hi Andrew

I'm not sure how the hammershank bushings in the Petrof made/assembled action are actually bushed when you first mention it. I do know that the problem shows up still on the actions put together in Tjekia. Whether its a result of relying on some factory <<tried and true>> proceedure for installing centerpins or some other reason I dont really know.  

Schimmels are pretty well made pianos IMHO, tho I for one find their sound a bit less then exciting. They tend to get really brassy over time as well... especially their uprights.

The thing I like about Petrofs vs Schimmels is that with a Petrof you can actually effect quite a big change for the better by addressing various action and vocing issues.  The basic sound picture of the Petrof is IMHO really quite good.

FYI, Roger Jolly is going to do a rather involved seminar at next years Nordic convention using 6 (I believe) Petrof grands.  He was just in Tjekia for some of the preparations for this.  Perhaps he has some insights he'd like to share as well....

Cheers
RicB


> Hi Ric,
> I just got back from summer NAMM where my wife and I were really 
> impressed with the new Sterling action.  When they, Geneva 
> International, said "Repetition..." my wife decided to put it to 
> the 
> test.  One of her favorites is Katchaturian's Toccata which she 
> can't 
> play the way she hears it in her head because all other pianos 
> have 
> choked on the repetition section (a real head-ache for me...).  
> The 
> Sterling action kept up with her without any distress much to her 
> delight.  I think it feels subtly different but she was not 
> deterred by it.
> 
> I note that we can order Petrof's with a Renner action or as 
> "Renner-Petrof" actions--Renner components assembled in the Petrof 
> factory.  Imadegawa hammers are standard, Abel or Renner hammers 
> are 
> special order (did I hear Renner Blue?).
> 
> Now when you mention uneven hammer shank bushings and pinning, 
> which 
> action(s) does this problem occur in?  Are they actually doing the 
> bushings in the Petrof assembled Renner actions?  Felt replacement 
> makes sense.  Fixing balance-hole depth is a pain, apparently they 
> are working on that.
> 
> I'd appreciate your comments as we are considering this make to 
> round 
> out our line at the store a bit.  What do you think of Schimmel 
> comparatively?  It was hard to assess the pianos due to the 
> proximity 
> of the bass and electric guitars at summer NAMM.
> 
> Thanks,
> Andrew Anderson
> 
> 
> ________________________________________________________
> It frequently takes more than one ugly fact to slay a beautiful 
> theory.--Chad Orzel
> 
>