<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD>
<META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">
<META content="MSHTML 6.00.6002.18357" name=GENERATOR>
<STYLE></STYLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgColor=#ffffff>
<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><FONT face=Arial size=2>Is anyone complaining that these instruments "Don't
have the Steinway touch?" </FONT></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: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><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 face="Comic Sans MS, sans-serif" color=black
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
face="Comic Sans MS, sans-serif" color=black size=2>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: arial,helvetica">
<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)">> <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>> </DIV></DIV><BR></BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></FONT></BODY></HTML>