[pianotech] Chickering Grand Hammer Flanges?

[Joseph Garrett]

Mark,
Yes, I have played two  M& Hs, in a side by side test, at Classic Piano, in Portland. I definately did not like the feel of the Plastic. Also, I did not like the tone produced. It must just be me.<G>  (Or...it could just have been those two pianos) 
I'm a wood worker. It's what I do. Plastic parts, no matter how well crafted, do not appeal to me. I happen to like the sound of pianos with wood parts. I do not like pianos with aluminum rails and/or plastic parts. That includes the difference between the new Kawaii s and the old ones. Two different entities! Truly not intended to be insulting or anything. I applaud the effort you have made in this regard. It is needed, I suppose, for those that like to change the basic character of the instruments they work onyour stuff is just the ticket. It's not to say that that's a bad thing, it's just not my thing. I try to bring out the intention of the designer of the piano, in my rebuilds. Your parts do not do that, IMO.<G>
 I perceive that over the past 40 years, pianos have transitioned into a harsh unmusical entity. I believe it is an evolutionary process that is prompted from modern ears becoming deaf at  earlier years. Also, it is a never ending process to try and get more out of a given piano. Some of the Tonal Perception is due to the poor EQing of modern recordings of pianos. The fact is that pianos will only produce so much of a decible level and that it has reached that! Any further attempt is simply producing more "noise" IMO. Granted, wooden action problems have their problems. I know how to work with them. Plastic is not a repairable product. It is a "replaceable' product. All goes along with our "throw away/disposable" societal mindset.

Regards, 
Joe


----- Original Message ----- 
From: Mark S Burgett 
To: joegarrett at earthlink.net;pianotech at ptg.org
Sent: 7/26/2011 3:23:34 PM 
Subject: RE: [pianotech] Chickering Grand Hammer Flanges?


Hi Joe,
 
I guess you haven’t played a piano with the WNG action parts.  They actually sound, play better and the pianist has more control that the wooden action parts.  Anyway, I wanted to share some pictures from Randy Mangus that rebuilt a Chickering with our parts with some creativity.  We didn’t have the correct Rep. flange then but will soon in our stock.
 
Mark
 
 



From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Joseph Garrett
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2011 1:21 PM
To: J Patrick Draine; pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Chickering Grand Hammer Flanges?
 
Patrick,
Not no, H%$# NO!<G> First of all, I've redesigned many actions for Chickerings Using Pratt Read and Renner parts. There are ways of putting a new action in a piano. Plastic, IMSO, is not it. It's too stiff and clunky for my likes. But, thanks for the suggestion.<G> I have all of the W.N.& G. action parts kit. I've done the numbers, etc.Just didn't add up for this olde duffer.<G> My point to this exercise is to see if I can save the customer some big bucks and have the piano play as it was originally designed. (which I consider to be correct for the instrument, as this is a pre-Aeolian thang.<G>)
Regards,
Joe
 
 
----- Original Message ----- 
From: J Patrick Draine 
To: joegarrett at earthlink.net;pianotech at ptg.org
Sent: 7/26/2011 8:44:30 AM 
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Chickering Grand Hammer Flanges?
 
Joe, 
I don't have answers to your annealing question but you might consider calling Jude Reveley for information on how he redesigned  a couple Chickering actions: WN&G action rail, WN&G action parts, back action, and a new and redesigned keyboard. Probably more than you were planning on, but perhaps worth considering. If it's the same model Jude has done all the design work on maybe you could work out a deal . . .
Patrick Draine
Jude's neighbor, here in cool Billerica
On Tue, Jul 26, 2011 at 1:04 AM, Joseph Garrett <joegarrett at earthlink.net> wrote:
Anyone have an idea the difference of expansion rates of Steel and Brass.
I'm into a Chickering Grand and am planning on trying to anneal them
puppies. 
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