<font color='black' size='2' face='Comic Sans MS, sans-serif'><font color="black" face="Comic Sans MS, sans-serif" size="2"> <div>  Hi Richard<br>    For sure Ed,.... Seems a legitimate question.<br>    But Richards question has to do with the original high action ratio and light hammer Pre-war-Steinway.  Some time back Ray had supplied some test hammers to some folks at Steinway.  The comments came back that they were more like the original hammers Stwy made before the WW-2, than what they made now. <br>    So,the short answer is yes, Ray can and does produce hammers that are in that early range of lightness. Made in the same type of press as early Steinways. Just tell us what you are trying to do and your desired target weights. <u>I don't think you can get closer to authentic weight and felt density than this on the planet</u><br>  Keep in mind some of those weights were crazy light. ie. On a n S in the shop.... note 4.....7.8 grams.... note 40 -6.5 <br>   get out! An accurate evaluation of the action ratio will tell you us what the particular weight parameters you are needing for the action before you.<br>  The raw hammer in the bass section in most hammers can usually be reduced by 1 & 1/2 grams & sometimes more. 1 in the ten. treble. Hey, I can even do a Stanwood type hammer eight prep for you.<br> </div> <div> <br> </div> <div style="clear: both;"><b><font color="indigo" size="1"><font face="Comic Sans MS, sans-serif"><font size="2">Dale S. Erwin<br> </font></font><font face="Comic Sans MS, sans-serif"><font size="2"><font size="1">www.Erwinspiano.com</font></font><br> <font size="1">Custom restoration<br> Ronsen Piano hammers<br> Join the Weickert felt Revolution<br> 209-577-8397</font></font><br> 209-985-0990</font><font size="1"><br> </font></b><br> <br> </div> <div> <br> </div> <div> <br> </div> <div style="font-family: arial,helvetica; font-size: 10pt; color: black;">-----Original Message-----<br> From: Ed Sutton <ed440@mindspring.com><br> To: caut@ptg.org<br> Sent: Mon, Feb 28, 2011 8:14 am<br> Subject: Re: [CAUT] Steinway sound<br> <br> <div id="AOLMsgPart_2_78375deb-99ec-4a08-b5bf-5ed2e4d3765d"> <div><font face="Arial" size="2">For what it's worth, here is another question:</font></div> <div><font face="Arial" size="2"></font> </div> <div><font face="Arial" size="2">David Stanwood's Touchweight Metrology formulas (ca. 1995) have brought about a revolution (or evolutionary change) in action rebuilding, including, I think it's fair to say, a small cottage industry in redesigning Steinway actions.</font></div> <div><font face="Arial" size="2"></font> </div> <div><b><font color="purple"><u><font face="Arial" size="2">Is anyone complaining that these instruments "Don't have the Steinway touch?" </font></u></font></b></div> <div><font face="Arial" size="2"></font> </div> <div><font face="Arial" size="2">(I have heard a Steinway trained salesman say "If you want the Steinway touch, you've got to have a genuine Steinway!")</font></div> <div><font face="Arial" size="2"></font> </div> <div><font face="Arial" size="2">Ed Sutton</font></div> <div><font face="Arial" size="2"></font> </div> <blockquote style="padding-right: 0px; padding-left: 5px; margin-left: 5px; border-left: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-right: 0px;"> <div style="font: 10pt arial;">----- Original Message ----- </div> <div style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(228, 228, 228); font: 10pt arial;"><b>From:</b> <a title="erwinspiano@aol.com" href="mailto:erwinspiano@aol.com">Dale Erwin</a> </div> <div style="font: 10pt arial;"><b>To:</b> <a title="caut@ptg.org" href="mailto:caut@ptg.org">caut@ptg.org</a> </div> <div style="font: 10pt arial;"><b>Sent:</b> Monday, February 28, 2011 10:58 AM</div> <div style="font: 10pt arial;"><b>Subject:</b> Re: [CAUT] Steinway sound</div> <div><br> </div> <font color="black" face="Comic Sans MS, sans-serif" size="2">   <font size="2"><font face="Comic Sans MS, sans-serif">I'm good with this statement Horace. <br>   In my own practice I have been trying in most cases to not deviate to far from the core tonal expectations for several reasons.<br> 1.  I like the basic Steinway sound at its best, & so do many ears<br> 2. I'm conservative with my clients pianos again trying to enhance the best components of the tone.<br> 3. Redesigning the piano too much can influence its marketability in the minds of some.  For others they would find it a plus to own a Hot Rod so to speak. Hey, different strokes.<br> <br>  I personally prefer to judge the piano by its sound not the design. That is..... what pianist do. They don't look under the hood. <br>   Heres the question. What constitutes a redesign?  Most guys out in small shops are not compression crowning there boards but  crowning the ribs to some degree to support crown. Drying the board far less. Neither is a Steinway parameter. This is our primary deviation. Do these pianos sound like Steinways? It doesn't matter what I think if the client likes them.<br>  <br> So here is an opportunity to see my The Erwin & Sons Re- manufactured 1930s Steinway B Hot Rod on display if you'll are coming to the WEST-PACS. in S.F. next week.  It will be there in the hall and in the Ronsen Class room.<br>   Dale <br> <br>  <br> </font></font><font color="black" face="Comic Sans MS, sans-serif" size="2"> </font></font> <div style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: arial,helvetica;"> <font color="black" face="Comic Sans MS, sans-serif" size="2"><font color="black" face="Comic Sans MS, sans-serif" size="2"> </font></font> <div id="AOLMsgPart_0_a844f0b6-4de9-4f17-b38d-c0f63a734a77" style="font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma,Verdana,Arial,Sans-Serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font color="black" face="Comic Sans MS, sans-serif" size="2"><font color="black" face="Comic Sans MS, sans-serif" size="2">> <br> > In any event, I very much like Brent's concept of complimenting > whatever design might exist "without alienating the core tonal > expectations..."; and working in smaller venues while new designs > are tested more thoroughly to see what does and does not stand up > to performance needs and expectations. That is a very wide field > of tone and response to explore, with tremendous room for > variation; and, as Brent notes, no one's career or reputation winds > up on the line. <br> > <br> > Developing things along these kinds of lines sounds to me like > everyone wins...and that qualifies as a Very Good Thing. <br> > <br> > Best. <br> > <br> > Horace <br> > <br> > </font></font></div> </div> <font color="black" face="Comic Sans MS, sans-serif" size="2"><font color="black" face="Comic Sans MS, sans-serif" size="2"><br> </font></font></blockquote><font color="black" face="Comic Sans MS, sans-serif" size="2"><font color="black" face="Comic Sans MS, sans-serif" size="2"></font></font></div>  </div> </font></font>