[CAUT] capsizing / catstrophic action failure

[Fred Sturm]

On Feb 28, 2006, at 11:01 AM, Ron Nossaman wrote:

>> Regarding Steinway, the loose pinning (currently 20% RH at this  
>> particular venue), coupled with raising the hammer line several mm  
>> (key-dip; a very skinny .400") brought about the dread CAF on  
>> several notes. (see Eric's test)
>
> Something I've been meaning to ask. New York Steinways, I assume?  
> 20%RH at 70° puts soundboards at 4.5%MC. That's at or below  
> (depending on who you talk to) what they were originally dried down  
> to for compression crowning with flat ribs. There shouldn't be a  
> lick of crown anywhere in these pianos in these conditions, and  
> they ought to be mostly killer octave and sound thoroughly terrible  
> right now. Do they?
>
> Ron N

Hi Ron,
	20% RH would be high around here at the moment. We're in the teens  
and single digits. How do pianos sound? Just fine to my ear. Maybe my  
ears have adapted, or the thin air and oxygen depletion has destroyed  
certain parts of my brain over the years. I frankly don't find lack  
of crown/DB all that noticeable. Or maybe it's that I am used to  
approaching pianos in that condition and voice/regulate/whatnot  
accordingly. I've never done piano work anywhere else, other than  
training sessions.
Regards,
Fred Sturm
University of New Mexico
fssturm@unm.edu