Fortepiano pinblock material

[Ron Torrella]

Gee, won't you be changing the timbre of the instrument, again (on top of
the change that resulted from the increased string tension), by putting in a
stiffer pinblock?

Has there been any other collateral damage from the increase in tension?
(separations at the rim, etc.) Seems to me that, if you make the pinblock
stiffer, you're going to have problems elsewhere.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-caut@ptg.org [mailto:owner-caut@ptg.org]On Behalf Of Ed
> Sutton
> Sent: Sunday, March 24, 2002 10:20 PM
> To: caut@ptg.org
> Subject: Fortepiano pinblock material
>
>
> Dear List-
>     I'm replacing the pinblock in a 1970's Zuckermann "Stein" Fortepiano.
> In the 1980's the string scale tension was increased at the direction of
> David Way, owner of Zuckermann Harpsichords.  The pinblock began
> to warp and
> the instrument is now unplayable.
>     First, I'm curious if anyone else has run into this, since this is a
> rather common instrument.  The owner has a xeroxed scale from Way, which
> makes me wonder if he had decided to rescale this model at a
> higher tension,
> and how many other instruments have warped pinblocks.  I also
> wonder if the
> same problem has occured with the lower tension original scale.  The
> original had .016" wire on the highest notes; the rescale had
> .018" wire on
> the highest notes.
>     Second, I'm wondering what material to use in the new pinblock.  It is
> supported at the ends only, no gap spacers.  The original appears to be
> solid beech.  Wouldn't Delignit or Falconwood be a stiffer material?
> Bolduc's 5 ply pinblock would be delightful to work with, but I fear it
> wouldn't be stiff enough. Or I could just use solid beech and
> hope it lasts
> a few decades.
>     I haven't decided whether to return to the original scale.  That is my
> inclination, but the owner states the instrument sounded better
> with the new
> scale.
>     I thank you in advance for your suggestions.
>         Ed Sutton


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