<font color='black' size='2' face='Comic Sans MS, sans-serif'>I <font size="2" color="black" face="Comic Sans MS, sans-serif">find smoke and mirrors very entertaining,...possibly illusionary...  :) <div> <br> </div> <div> <br> </div> <div style="clear: both;"><b><font size="1" color="indigo"><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: Jeannie Grassi <jcgrassi@earthlink.net><br> To: Ed Sutton <ed440@mindspring.com>; caut@ptg.org<br> Sent: Mon, Mar 7, 2011 11:22 am<br> Subject: Re: [CAUT] Steinway sound<br> <br> <div id="AOLMsgPart_2_e982b5ca-2173-4a78-a357-9cd6b6cb6068"> <base>And I heard a Steinway salesman who was attempting to sell an 1890s K with all, I mean all, original parts say,   "Now that's the true Steinway touch!" <div>Just sayin..... : :>)</div> <div><br> </div> <div>jeannie</div> <div><br> <div> <div>On Feb 28, 2011, at 8:14 AM, Ed Sutton wrote:</div> <br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><blockquote type="cite"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; font-size: medium;"> <div bgcolor="#ffffff"> <div><font size="2" face="Arial">For what it's worth, here is another question:</font></div> <div><font size="2" face="Arial"></font> </div> <div><font size="2" face="Arial">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 size="2" face="Arial"></font> </div> <div><font size="2" face="Arial">Is anyone complaining that these instruments "Don't have the Steinway touch?"</font></div> <div><font size="2" face="Arial"></font> </div> <div><font size="2" face="Arial">(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 size="2" face="Arial"></font> </div> <div><font size="2" face="Arial">Ed Sutton</font></div> <div><font size="2" face="Arial"></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-color: rgb(228, 228, 228); font: 10pt arial;"><b>From:</b><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a title="erwinspiano@aol.com" href="mailto:erwinspiano@aol.com">Dale Erwin</a></div> <div style="font: 10pt arial;"><b>To:</b><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a title="caut@ptg.org" href="mailto:caut@ptg.org">caut@ptg.org</a></div> <div style="font: 10pt arial;"><b>Sent:</b><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Monday, February 28, 2011 10:58 AM</div> <div style="font: 10pt arial;"><b>Subject:</b><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Re: [CAUT] Steinway sound</div> <div><br> </div> <font size="2" color="black" face="Comic Sans MS, sans-serif">  <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><font size="2"><font face="Comic Sans MS, sans-serif">I'm good with this statement Horace.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><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.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><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<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br> <br>  <br> </font></font><font size="2" color="black" face="Comic Sans MS, sans-serif"> <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> </font></font></blockquote><font size="2" color="black" face="Comic Sans MS, sans-serif"><font size="2" color="black" face="Comic Sans MS, sans-serif"></font></font></div> </span><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></blockquote></div> <br> </div> = </div>  </div> </font></font>