[CAUT] Steinway sound

[David Love]

I think it is worth considering that the original style hammers from the
1920s were extremely light (probably by about two grams at note 40) and that
combined with a matching leverage on par with the original (meaning higher)
does produce a different tonal dynamic than a very low leverage system with
a heavier hammer.  That original low tension scale (on the smaller pianos)
and lightweight soundboard arguably benefits from a matching hammer.  

David Love
www.davidlovepianos.com




From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of
rwest1 at unl.edu
Sent: Monday, February 28, 2011 9:24 AM
To: caut at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [CAUT] Steinway sound

Dale,

I don't have a current project going, but I've always wondered what it would
be like to go with early designs.  And I don't particularly like the way
Steinway is going with its current designs.  In particular I've wondered
about the whipping effect a lighter, longer shank might provide.  It seems
like the difference between a catapult and a trebuchet.  I know the leverage
is totally different, but my point is whipping versus jamming the hammer
toward the string.  I've seen the high speed videos and I was amazed at how
much the hammer shank bends on a hard blow.  In fact the hammer doesn't
strike at 90 degrees because it tilts back so far, then scrubs the string a
couple of times before it's finally clear.  Amazing and thought provoking.  

Richard West