To Bill Spurlock: Dear Bill, You ask how Yamaha and Kawaii strike ratios compare to the Hamburg ideal of 5.5? A vast majority of our strike weight/ratio studies have been on Steinway actions. The numbers that we have on Yamaha and Kawaii are not enough to draw statistically relevant conclusions. What I've seen varies. When I was teaching At the North Carolina State convention last fall we measured a new Kawaii that was in the class room. We classified it as a medium strike weight/full leverage type, and it did feel light (right on 5.5 level). Newton took some data an older Kawaii at Rutgers. It was a Medium strike weight/Low leverage and it felt heavy. Average strike ratio=6.5 I recently measured a 5 year old Yamaha C-7. It was a Full Strike Weight/Medium leverage and it felt heavy. Average strike ratio= 6.3 (It was even heavier before key bushing friction was reduced). I've measured a 9 Yamahas with Full Strike/Full Leverage, average 5.6) and it felt fine except for very low flange friction which made for difficult pianissimo control. If any of you come up with data on strike weight/ratio I would love to include it in my database. I'm happy to share the knowledge. Bill... you asked about repetition in wippen support spring type actions. I'll respond as soon as I have more time to write. It's really great to be in the discussion with all of you! David C. Stanwood _
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