My dear colleagues, A couple of days ago I sent this post to the list. It took me some time to put the (english) words together, to type them onto the screen, to retype some phrases, and finally I pushed on the "send Now" button. I had fun and I rubbed my tired hands and my last words to y'all were : "I will patiently wait behind my box, and hope for the best (a breeze)..." Actually, I am not patient at all! I am the nervous type..allways on time, 20 minutes too early on the train etc... So I waited and waited impatiently, and lo and behold! One colleague (thank you David ilvedson) sent me a letter back! ONE!! I had asked the advice of the giants in pianoland, the (American) hero's of the piano industry.... I feel left out.....snif... I am dissappointed...snif... What have I done wrong? Is there somebody with a (piano heart) ? A stern and firm senior with tons of wisdom? A motherly pianotechnica with a piano heart of GOLD? A bright young genius, a piano brat who dares to kick some middle aged shins? But no...snif I must maybe learn to be really patient.....snif I will give it one more desperate try! It is my duty! here it comes nogmaals meaning..."AGAIN" >Dear colleagues, >One of the things I have heard about, is affecting the tone (of a grand >piano) by working on the hammer shank. >At one time, I was for a learning period in the Bösendorfer factory, and I >had trouble with tuning a certain tone in the treble. >I complained about this to the instructor, and what he did amazed me.... >First he took out the action, pulled the hammers upwards, and tapped on >the heads with a piece of wood. >He then discovered that the hammer that gave me trouble, gave a different >sound. it was either higher or lower in pitch. >He took out the hammer, pulled off the hammerhead and replaced the shank >with another one after having made sure that the pitch of the hammershank >was about the same as the neighboring shanks. >After this procedure tuning was, as I recently learned from you (english >speaking) guys, "a breeze"...(I like that one! and I will now use it many >times... so if you already know yet a new expression, do >yourself< a >favour!!!) > >Now...I do understand why the treble hammers in more expensive instruments >have been made thinner, but I have also heard, that one could "voice" the >sound by "working" on the shank, by scraping off some wood hear and there. >I do not have actual experience with this and I am sure that amongst us >there will be some giant who has more accurate knowledge about this. > >As I read many posts about oval and round shanks, I understand that the >issue is weight and volume (w&v). >I am for the moment however curious about the alteration of the shank, not >for the sake of loudness, but for subtle changes in timbre. > >I will patiently wait behind my box, and hope for the best (a breeze)... > > > >Friendly greetings from : > >CONCERT PIANO SERVICE >André Oorebeek >Amsterdam, the Netherlands > >‰ where MUSIC is no harm can be ‰ > > > Friendly greetings from : CONCERT PIANO SERVICE André Oorebeek Amsterdam, the Netherlands ‰ where MUSIC is no harm can be ‰
This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC