>I've been looking into improving the action on my 'B'. It was rebuilt a year >ago and although the action has all new Renner parts and new hammers it is >still not as "exciting" as I'd hoped for. > >I've been trying to gather as much information as I can about David Stanwoods >approach to improving actions. Is there anyone who has had the work done or >has played piano's with this modification done to it? > >Mitchell Rivers The perils of long-distance diagnosis notwithstanding, the word "exciting" made me wonder if perhaps we're talking about voicing. Is any part of your concern about the sound? Voicing affects primarily the sound, but can also change the feel of the action. Would you be willing to describe your concerns further? What age is your B? It sounds as if Renner shanks and repetitions were used; are the hammers Renner as well? Did you like the sound before the work? My best advice would be to continue the conversation with your own technician. Action overhauls are not just a matter of "fixing" the action. There is considerable latitude for adjusting to the pianist's preferences once new parts are correctly installed and played in. In addition, the currently available parts are not an absolute match for the originals, especially on older Steinways. That doesn't mean they won't work, and they actually have some advantages. It just means that some modification might be necessary to fit your particular needs. There may be considerably more your own technician can do, if you can clarify your concerns. They don't have to be in "technicalese"; just describe them as clearly as you can. Maybe we (the list) can help, too. Let us know - Bob Davis, RPT
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