Steinway "pinning" dilemma

[David's Email]

Repin and check with its neighbor as to who has the best tone.  A free but
firm center is a must!

David I.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jim Busby" <jim_busby@byu.edu>
To: "College and University Technicians" <caut@ptg.org>
Sent: Saturday, September 27, 2003 11:11 AM
Subject: Steinway "pinning" dilemma


> 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
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > caut list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives
> >
>
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