[CAUT] Stwy A (6' 1") speaking lengths

[Alan Eder]

Hi Henry,


-----Original Message-----
From: Dr. Henry Nicolaides <drsnic4 at hotmail.com>
To: College and University Technicians <caut at ptg.org>
Sent: Fri, Mar 18, 2011 8:25 am
Subject: Re: [CAUT] Stwy A (6' 1") speaking lengths


Hi Alan,

It is interesting.  I think there are specs and then there is the real world in dealing with variables in manufacturing and assembly.  I was advised by one of the bass string makers, Arledge I think, to ALWAYS measure when ordering bass strings.  He had observed differences enough to feel that there would be an improvement from the "stock" sets made according to factory specs.


I've heard Arledge say that there re rather large variations in bass string speaking lengths on certain brands (and he has a pretty good pool of samples at this point).  Since he tries to leave a minimal amount of exposed core wire in the speaking length, precise measurements of the particular piano for which he is asked to make bass strings is a must.

Reminds me of the saying "close enough for government work".  Maybe this partly explains that all pianos of a given model are inherently the same but distinctly different.


Yes, although there may be others on this list who have informed opinions about how significant variations in speaking length are and, moreover, what is more desirable (and why!).

Henry 


Alan


To: caut at ptg.org
From: reggaepass at aol.com
Date: Fri, 18 Mar 2011 11:57:41 -0400
Subject: Re: [CAUT] Stwy A (6' 1") speaking lengths

Hi Henry,


Thanks for both sets of numbers.  Interesting, for the lowest three samples the speaking lengths in the piano you have is 2 to 9 mm longer than the specs in the manual, C 88 being 1 mm shorter (is 48 mm about as short as short as C 88 gets, on any piano?).


Alan Eder


-----Original Message-----
From: Dr. Henry Nicolaides <drsnic4 at hotmail.com>
To: College and University Technicians <caut at ptg.org>
Sent: Fri, Mar 18, 2011 4:37 am
Subject: Re: [CAUT] Stwy A (6' 1") speaking lengths


Alan,

>From Max Matthias book Steinway Service Manual,  he references Scales of Grand Models: note # 1 being 1454, #20 being 1024, #21 being 1272, and #88 being 49 mm.  We have an "A" serial number 279282 (circa 1935) that measures comparatively.  From the middle of the agraffe or V bar as in #88: #1 measures 1459, #2 measures 1026, #21 measures 1281, and #88 measures 48mm.

Henry Nicolaides



To: caut at ptg.org
From: reggaepass at aol.com
Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2011 17:14:22 -0400
Subject: [CAUT] Stwy A (6' 1") speaking lengths



Greetings List,


Does anyone have information about speaking lengths (particularly notes nos. 1, 20, 21 and 88) for Steinway model A, 6' 1" (1913).  This could be information either from Steinway itself, or from observation, or even your own notion of what might work best.  The project in question does not involve adding a transition bridge or rescaling, but comparing the original condition of a piano getting a new board and bridge caps with other iterations of the same model.


Many thanks,


Alan Eder




 		 	   		  
 
 		 	   		  
 
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