[pianotech] Interesting action on Yamaha YUA

Porritt, David dporritt at mail.smu.edu
Wed Jul 8 06:08:28 MDT 2009


I'm impressed!

dp

David M. Porritt, RPT
dporritt at smu.edu

From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Ryan Sowers
Sent: Tuesday, July 07, 2009 11:57 PM
To: Ed Sutton; pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Interesting action on Yamaha YUA

It plays well at very low levels. I uploaded a short video clip showing at which point the note stops playing. Of course with the computer its a little hard to compare with real life, but it seems to play at very quiet levels better than most uprights.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dBfDkw8Jc8

It is also an example of my new minimalist composition. Enjoy...
On Tue, Jul 7, 2009 at 4:40 PM, Ed Sutton <ed440 at mindspring.com<mailto:ed440 at mindspring.com>> wrote:
Ryan-

As you play more and more softly, every action reaches a failure point where the response becomes erratic, so there is a limit on how quietly you can play dependably. Alexander and I are wondering if this action is different from a standard Yamaha vertical action in this respect. Perhaps it repeats faster at a cost of less pianissimo response range?

The purpose of weights in the back of vertical keys is usually to get the key back down so that the jack can reset. If you add keyweight to increase touchweight, you are pumping lead that doesn't do anything to the overall action response. If you add a small amount of weight to the hammer, it will increase the dynamic touch of the piano, and perhaps improve the sound as well, even thoughj the static downweight will still measure low.

Ed
----- Original Message -----
From: Ryan Sowers<mailto:tunerryan at gmail.com>
To: pianotech at ptg.org<mailto:pianotech at ptg.org>
Sent: Tuesday, July 07, 2009 6:12 PM
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Interesting action on Yamaha YUA

It does have a very light touch. I just took some downweight measurements and it's around 43-45 grams. Upweight is around 23 grams so the friction is around 10. I'm contemplating adding some weight at the back of the keys but I kind of like how it plays. If somebody is looking for a light action this would be the one.

Alex: I don't understand your analogy to the grand action and feeling of lack of gravity. When you refer to spring tension being neglibible, do you mean the hammer return spring or the jack spring?
On Tue, Jul 7, 2009 at 10:49 AM, Alexander Lass <lasspiano at gmail.com<mailto:lasspiano at gmail.com>> wrote:
Ed,

This is the first question that came to mind when I saw the design.  To make it analogous to a grand action, I think the feeling would be similar to not having any gravity acting upon the hammer assembly until the point of let-off.  Perhaps the spring tension is such that any sensation is negligible, but it does pose an interesting question.

Ryan, any thoughts?

Alex
On Mon, Jul 6, 2009 at 9:38 PM, Ed Sutton <ed440 at mindspring.com<mailto:ed440 at mindspring.com>> wrote:
Ryan-

What is the effect on pianissimo playing?

Ed Sutton



--
Ryan Sowers, RPT
Puget Sound Chapter
Olympia, WA
www.pianova.net<http://www.pianova.net>



--
Ryan Sowers, RPT
Puget Sound Chapter
Olympia, WA
www.pianova.net<http://www.pianova.net>
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