[pianotech] Vertical Touchweight

[David Love]

Sometimes.  I have had experiences where it was a benefit and others where
it wasn't and, as I mentioned, have had some situations where I was asked to
remove them because they were either too hard or too noisy, or both.  Like
all things touch related there is a personal element to this.  It's not the
end of all of unclear tone, better sound, better feel, just another option.
Personally, I'm still waiting to hear how they help reform lost crown on old
soundboards.  Kidding, of course.  

David Love
www.davidlovepianos.com

-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Jim Busby
Sent: Tuesday, July 07, 2009 10:31 AM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Vertical Touchweight

David,

I regularly replace everything, when possible, with Crescendo punchings and
it does make a positive difference. I have a gauge that does a simple, yet
maybe not too scientific compression test, and most punchings (I haven't
tried 'em all!) don't seem to be as dense, or at least "less compressible".
Players seem to like this "firm landing", for lack of better words. I've
done it on several piano faculty pianos w/o telling them what I did and they
all commented something like this "I really like my piano! I feels _____
(add your own word) better, firmer, more control, sounds better..." etc.
i.e. they all liked the results but couldn't really put a finger on one
thing.

The new S&S punchings and the Kawai and Yamaha 9' pianos also seem to have
denser FR punchings than other models. Nearly ALL uprights seem to have the
"spongier" punchings, so it does seem to help.

Jim Busby RPT


-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of david at piano.plus.com
Sent: Monday, July 06, 2009 10:14 PM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Vertical Touchweight

 "Crescendo front rail punchings replaced the spongy "shoe
insole" material that came from the factory.  What a difference"


Floyd, your mention of the Crescendo punchings used on an upright is
interesting - I've wondered myself if it would make much difference; the
mentions on here seem to have been in relation only to grands.

When you said "what a difference!" did you mean specifically from the
Crescendo punchings, or from all the other bits too that you mentioned?

I suppose with this piano, your work will bring it up to the limits of
what's possible for it, get the best that's possible out of it, in terms
of action responsiveness.  It won't of course change soundboard and scale
factors, but it will be very interesting to find out to what extent the
piano becomes satisfying to play just through improving the action.

Keep us posted

David.