[CAUT] balancier/wippens report/ JimB

[Ric Brekne]

Hi Jim

I have no negative experience with the strong balancier pinning myself. 
Most of the arguments I hear in favor are reasonable enough to say the 
least. I don't like to end up with the jack slamming into the stop/rest 
felt tho.  Seems like no matter what you do to soften that cushion it 
will get packed down pretty fast with a too strong jack. That said... up 
to a point a strong return of the jack seems to help repetition issues 
quite a bit. As for the balancier and hammer pinning.  I get the feeling 
there are several combinations of these that will in any case allow for 
acceptable checking. In the end tho... the knuckle/jack relationship is 
critical for repetition, and the hammer must end up having an effective 
weight (including frictions) that doesn't get in the way of that and at 
the same time allows for the hammer to easily reach the check itself on 
a reasonably soft blow.  Some where between pp and ppp play I suppose.  
If these things are in good shape... then it seems to me any checking 
problems have to lie with other issues.

I haven't had the "pleasure" of running into the new New York low 
friction pinning.  Tho side play would be my first concern. And the lack 
of natural a breaking effect would be right behind.  You only need to 
get an action playing so fast.  It is possible to achieve repetition 
speeds in excess of what pianists can use. Years of getting them as fast 
as I could taught me that pianists by and large don't really like that 
feel to begin with and cant exploit the extra speed anyways.  I mean... 
do you know anyone who can play a 64th note at a 160 tempo :) 

Cheers and Merry Christmas.

RicB


   Ric,

   Fwiw, I agree with your disagreement on Wim's points (1,2 & 4). That is
   also my experience. I would also like to see an article/collaboration on
   the topic.

   Richard Davenport strongly advocates 8-10 grams (I believe) in the
   balancier pinning and offers compelling reasons. It might be good to get
   his input, since that is one of his big "things".

   Also, S&S promotion of 1-3 pinning in the hammer flanges and "Zero is OK
   as long as there is no side play..." (paraphrased from their manual)
   needs debunking. It's flat wrong IMO. Even though they do have their
   "special" impregnated bushing cloth, zero simply ain't good.

   Regards,

   Jim Busby