Steinway "pinning" dilemma

[Richard Brekne]

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Jim Busby wrote:

> 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???
>

Hmm... assuming the hammers follow a solid path towards the string, even in
hard play... it should be ok.... aside from the general discussion about
whether or not a certain amount of friction is a good thing. That said...
seems like an awwwwwfull lot of swings... 25 +.... hard to imagine thats not
because of overly loose pins. I get quite an improvement with useing teflon
powder in bushings... and have experienced solid pinning at 12 swings or so
on occasion... but thats not any where near what you are describing.


>
> 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?

I like a certain amount of friction... 10 grams or so seems very
comfortable... but then I'm rather conservative with actions. Friction can
serve as a brake... keeps the fly away hammer syndrom from getting to
carried away. Tho admitedly... my call on this is pretty subjective in
nature.


>
> 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.

Would be interested in hearing a follow up on these <<permafree>>
bushings... what you think of them as you go through changing and servicing
them over the next few months.

>
> 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?
>

Steinways official line is that these should exhibit 10 - 35 swings ??...
let them go for a while if that be... and see how well they perform...
change one or two if you think its the right thing to do and compare. Loose
pins cause sloppy sound... weak and falsy... you know it when you hear it.


>
> Thanks,
> Jim Busby RPT
> BYU
>

--
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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