Steinway "pinning" dilemma

[Jim Busby]

List,

I am NOT bashing here...I love Steinways, but I have a dilemma. (BTW, I
just finished prepping and tuning 12 "out of the box" 1098's and they
are indeed wonderful instruments! None of the former problems.)
(Hurray!)

Here is a new question concerning pinning on the 8 new grands I have. (2
D's, 3 B's, 2 M's, and an S.) Hammer flange pinning is around 1-2 grams!
(From 20 to 37 swings) I was ready to repin, since they simply don't
check without roughing the tails (which I believe shouldn't be the
solution) Steinway says that they have a new flange design to try to
"totally", as far as possible, reduce friction there. They advertise it
as "permafree" (scary) because of the Teflon impregnated into the
bushing cloth. They say that as long as there is no side play 37 swings
is OK. But is it???

You can make the action work by making sure rep. spring is not too
strong and by periodically roughing the tails, but conventional wisdom
says we need proper friction in the right places to make an action feel
and work correctly. Right?? Any thoughts on this? 

Since they are under warranty I will do as I was taught at Steinway, but
my gut feeling is to repin the rail, lighten the hammers, etc. to
achieve proper touchweight, and spend the next ten years working on
pianos that feel "right" to me. 

I've consulted with 2 other techs who are top notch by any standard and
they totally agree with me. However, two Steinway techs say their system
works. How do I justify the two seemingly opposing systems and make the
pianos work to my standards without bucking Steinway? Have any of you
faced this yet?

Thanks,
Jim Busby RPT
BYU 


-----Original Message-----
From: caut-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of Ed
Sutton
Sent: Friday, September 26, 2003 12:33 PM
To: College and University Technicians
Subject: Re: Tuning Steinway Verticals

Richard and Jeff-

I apologise if my comments have veered beyond the professional on this
list.

My original question was posted because frustrations of working with the
new
1098's have been much discussed recently in our local chapter.  Jeff,
your
description of tuning the new 1098's was exactly what I experience.  I
found the
discussion of various techniques for dealing with the instrument very
helpful.
When I have difficulty with an instrument, I always wonder if the
problem is with
the instrument or with my technique.  Knowing that others have similar
experiences
makes it less frustrating, since I'll blame myself less, and just deal
with the
problems as they occur.

By the way, I tune a 1915 Steinway Verti-grand; easy, smooth tuning, and
sounds
wonderful after 87 years with nothing new but hammers and keybushings.

Ed Sutton


----- Original Message -----
From: "Richard Brekne" <Richard.Brekne@grieg.uib.no>
To: "College and University Technicians" <caut@ptg.org>
Sent: Thursday, September 25, 2003 12:32 PM
Subject: Re: Tuning Steinway Verticals


>
>
> Jeff Tanner wrote:
>
> > I really don't understand this thread of hatred I'm hearing for
Steinway
> > products, and I certainly don't understand the overblown enthusiasm
for
> > lesser priced instruments which I've never seen stand up to the
punishment
> > the Steinway products can handle.
> >
> > Yes, Steinways are expensive, but they tend to pay for themselves.
> > Jeff
>
> Neither do I. Especially in the light of the apparent fact that it is
a rather
> self defeating tact to take in the first place. But to be fair. Some
of the
> criticism we hear is honest and fair enough.
>
> I think too, some of it is pure frustration rooted out lashing. Lets
face it...
> Steinway has the markets ear, the reputation of being the best, and to
THEE
degree
> dominant the concert venue market. It makes it tough for any newcomers
to make
> their mark.. regardless of how good they are. Still I think Steinway
gets a
rotten
> deal on that mark.  It strikes me as more the fault of the mass
produces of
> inexpensive pianos that inhibit the creative newcomer more then
Steinway.. but
> that's just my opinion.
>
> On the other hand again, .human kind is not more evolved then vast
numbers of us
> are perfectly capable of being just plain envious... or desiring to
shoot down
the
> top guy... just to be able to say they did it.
>
> Still, for my part, I would appreciate far less bashing in general...
be it of a
> particular manufacturer, or of each other. Thats not really what we're
here
for...
> or what ?
>
> RicB
> --
> Richard Brekne
> RPT, N.P.T.F.
> UiB, Bergen, Norway
> mailto:rbrekne@broadpark.no
> http://home.broadpark.no/~rbrekne/ricmain.html
> http://www.hf.uib.no/grieg/personer/cv_RB.html
>
>
> _______________________________________________
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>

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