Solid, one piece music desks on grands do something similar in restricting the sound that comes at the player, though on a somewhat lesser scale. David Love www.davidlovepianos.com (sent from bb) -----Original Message----- From: "Delwin D Fandrich" <del at fandrichpiano.com> Sender: caut-bounces at ptg.org Date: Sat, 26 Feb 2011 08:47:37 To: <caut at ptg.org> Reply-To: caut at ptg.org Subject: Re: [CAUT] Upright tone openings I have asked this question of several manufacturers. Mostly I get a blank stare. Rather like, “Why on earth would anyone want to do that?” It doesn’t seem to fit into the Eurocentric modern aesthetic theme most builders strive for these days. On a similar note I’ve wondered why modern manufacturers work so hard to hermetically seal—it seems—their instruments. Panels are made of relatively thick MDF which is about as efficient a sound barrier as you can find without spending a whole lot of money. And then they work very hard to close every gap and every possible path where sound might actually leak out and hit the pianist. You’re right, opening the top lid just isn’t the same. ddf Delwin D Fandrich Piano Design & Fabrication 620 South Tower Avenue Centralia, Washington 98531 USA del at fandrichpiano.com ddfandrich at gmail.com Phone 360.736.7563 From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Mckeever, James I Sent: Saturday, February 26, 2011 8:36 AM To: caut at ptg.org Cc: llwallace at fuse.net; dean at FamilyPianoCo.com; Alice Alviani Subject: Re: [CAUT] Upright tone openings Dale, thanks for the excellent idea. When I visited UW-Madison about 25 years ago, they were still maintaining a number of almost ceiling-high uprights. Don’t remember what they were. So why no tone openings? So they are softer for practice? If students putting objects through the openings is a problem, put a grill behind each opening. Why build a very high-end upright then not allow the sound to get out?! Lifting the top just isn’t enough! Jim McKeever From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Dale Erwin Sent: Saturday, February 26, 2011 9:42 AM To: caut at ptg.org Subject: Re: [CAUT] Upright tone openings Hi Jim I'm a big fan of 1890 to 1910 uprights. The glory days of post Victorian uprights. So many had three piece panels with cut outs in the front backed with a nice linnen cloth. SO much sound could exit forward. I have a gorgeous Hardman upright given to me by Carl Meyer In San Jose be fore he died. He said I know you'll fix it someday. And some day I will. Why not find a nice chip and dale pattern and trace it on the Rippen bottom panel and top music desk area,.... Get a jig saw and go to town. Dale S. Erwin www.Erwinspiano.com Jim 209-577-8397 209-985-0990 -----Original Message----- From: Mckeever, James I <mckeever at uwp.edu> To: caut at ptg.org <caut at ptg.org> Sent: Fri, Feb 25, 2011 2:20 pm Subject: [CAUT] Upright tone openings Why aren’t there “tone openings” in most uprights? I recall a very old spinet which had cloth-covered openings at the sides of the music stand. What about the lower panel? Sound can get out of grands, but not uprights unless you raise the lid. When I practice on my fine Rippen “Concerto” model, I often remove the bottom panel. Of course, the tone is then fabulous. Comments, please! Jim McKeever -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://ptg.org/pipermail/caut.php/attachments/20110226/3f1769a3/attachment-0001.htm>
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