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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Consider the traditional method of =
measuring
downweight and upweight. These are not static measurements. =
Part of
taking good measurements involves developing the skill of recognizing =
equal
speeds of hammer rise. And there is also that bump to overcome =
friction,
and the velocity must be great enough to continue overcoming =
friction.
Some part of this measurement is M.O.I. dependent on velocity. Add =
a few
grams to the measuring weight, and the hammer rises faster. Bass =
hammers
tend to be slower to rise, and need a bigger bump. Treble hammers =
often
need little or no bump. Does the compression of parts by the =
heavier
hammer produce more friction, and that's all the difference, or is part =
of the
difference due to the inertial mass of the larger hammer?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>In practice, it seems to me that bass =
hammers with
wippen assist springs rise more easily (with less bump) than bass =
hammers
without wippen assist springs, though I've not made direct =
comparisons.
Anybody else see it that way?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Thinking of Isaac's posts.... About 2 =
years ago I
rebuilt a D action using wippen assist springs. It went to a small =
college
with 2 piano prof's. One plays Schubert Impromptus and Mozart =
Sonatas with
(to my ear) articulate, melodic phrasing and wonderful sensitivity =
to the
color response of the piano, obviously listening to the piano as she =
plays.
She's a real technician's delight!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The other plays Chopin Etudes as loud =
and fast as
possible, (to my ear) with no musical effect at all. The Schubert =
player
loves the action. The Chopin pounder says; "I don't know. =
Somethings
wrong. The bass is too light, the treble's too heavy. Or I don't =
know what
it is, but it never feels the same." </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Fortunately the Schubert player is the =
senior
faculty member! The Chopin player practices on a worn out B with =
heavy
bass, light treble. Now I wonder if my work to reduce the amount =
of lead
in the bass keys has thrown him for a loop. Perhaps, as Isaac =
describes,
he is used to having that weight to help control the key in the furious =
music he
plays.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I'll be quiet now; forget pianos and =
go take a
kid to ride a horse...</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Ed S.</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>