[CAUT] Steinway rebuilds

[Bob Hull]

Tuning stability is the result of good tuning technique while pitch stability is 
the result of smart piano design and humidity control.    Tuning is separate 
from the work of rebuilding.   The best improvement I have found in pitch 
stability is on pianos that have a horizontally laminated bridge cap.   An older 
Ibach that I tune regularly has a vertically laminated cap but the laminations 
are thick and few.  It is more stable than solid caps but not as stable as caps 
with a higher number of thinner laminations.  A Baldwin D that Ron N. 
rebuilt/redesigned has a bridge and board that maintain pitch better than almost 
all pianos I tune.   Laminated bridge caps working with ribs that support the 
soundboard and maintain its crowned shape  even under the pressure of the 
strings have clearly shown superior pitch level control as the humidity changes. 
 But, with all that said, if you want total pitch stability, get a keyboard and 
enjoy the canned music.  I wonder if there is a danger in trying to get the 
system too stable at the cost of lively tone.  As long as an instrument is 
acoustically driven, the pitch will vary.  Don't make pianos too stable because 
I am not ready to retire!

Bob Hull

----- Original Message ----
From: Ron Nossaman <rnossaman at cox.net>
To: caut at ptg.org
Sent: Tue, February 15, 2011 9:43:00 PM
Subject: Re: [CAUT] Steinway rebuilds

On 2/15/2011 9:18 PM, Brent Fischer wrote:
> 
> I'm going to take the high road on responding. Research proves my
> point, I'm just repeating it.

Research? On piano tuning stability as a result of using varnish instead of 
lacquer on soundboards? That would make entertaining reading.


> Proving stability differences is just a mute point.

Well, no. That seems to be exactly the point.


> However, too many rebuilders use lacquer on
> boards because it's easy, not because it's in the best interest of
> the instrument.

At least a couple of techs providing service to my lacquered soundboard 
redesigns have reported that they are notably more stable than the original. 
There are a number of parameters for tuning stability in design and build of 
soundboards that are argued by non designers and builders of soundboards, but 
there is ample evidence that varnish is not the magic ingredient that provides 
stability.
Ron N