[CAUT] Touch input vs tone output

[Greg Graham]

Fred Sturm wrote, in the "Steinway Sound" thread: 

"Partly it is regulation, but once that foundation is laid, it is a  question of 
voicing in conjunction with the responsiveness of the  whole belly apparatus, 
how much and how fast a gradient there is,  for increase in power and change of 
timbre, versus added effort at  the key. This is a major factor in how a pianist 
will judge a piano."

What if the regulation foundation was adjustable?  

At the MARC two years ago (and other conventions since), David Stanwood 
conducted experiments in a classroom demonstrating his variable action ratio 
balance rail setup in a Mason and Hamlin grand.  He had two or three 
technician-pianists play the piano with a low ratio (5:1), then play the same 
thing with a high ratio (6:1).  Same hammers, same voicing, just the balance 
point on the keystick changed.  


Interesting results:  

1.  I and most of the other "audience" members noticed the piano sounded 
different after "switching gears".  


2.  The performers had strong opinions about which ratio they preferred.  

3.  And the kicker for me:  The ratio they preferred to play on was NOT the 
ratio I thought sounded the best.  


Then, David added a gram to each hammer with binder clips, and repeated the low 
and high ratio experiment.  The additional weight changed the tone, as expected, 
but we also heard changes with the ratio shift as before.  

They seemed to play better when they had to work for it.  I don't remember if 
they preferred 5 or 6, heavy or light hammers, but I remember comments like "It 
was easier to control with ratio x than y".  I liked their playing better 
when they thought the piano was harder to control.  Maybe pianists select the 
wrong pianos.   


David would like to see a future where performance pianos have easily variable 
ratios, which would be fine adjusted by each player to suit.  NOW imagine the 
piano selection process.  


We have a pedal to provide variable voicing.  Wouldn't it be cool to have a 
pedal or knob or lever (or gearshift?) for variable action ratio?  


There is still plenty of room for new piano design.  

Greg Graham