Sharp Height

[Charles K. Ball]

Dear Avery,

I did not read the original post, and can only speculate regarding this
question, but I do have a couple of observations.

Observation #1: I have been advised by Bob Marinelli, who duplicates
keyboards (in a most wonderful manner, I might add), that the Baldwin
keyboard and Steinway keyboard starting around 1940 are about 3/8" narrower
overall than the standard keyboard of today, including the Kluge keyboard
that Steinway now installs.  Thus, if you replace a Steinway keyboard of
this vintage with a Marinelli or Kluge keyboard, you will need to relocate
and reduce the thickness of one or both of the cheekblocks.

Observation #2: I have found that if one uses original Steinway dimensions
on the shank, i.e. a 15.5mm knuckle set (from the center pin, measured from
the center of the pin to the center of the knuckle moulding), one can use a
12mm sharp height; however, if one uses the current production part (17mm
knuckle set), one must use the 1/2" sharp height because of the greater dip
required (.420" vs. .390"), otherwise, the sharps will bury between the
adjacent naturals.  Most of the European and Asian pianos call for a 12mm
sharp height.

Just some points to ponder.

Regards,

Charles

>List,
>
>   A question came up the other day on the piano list about the Steinway
>not being as "user friendly" (as it was called) in their white to black
>note ratio, as compared to pianos like Baldwin, Mason & Hamlin, Chickering,
>Kawai and several others.
>   Another comment said that maybe it's the height of the black note and
>that it seems more accessible and easier to hit.  Mason and Baldwins fit in
>the hand; but some new Steinways use very narrow black keys and are higher
>to hit.
>   The only thing I can come up with is that he's referring to the height
>of the black keys (and the width?) on S & S. Aren't all pianos pretty much
>standard at 1/2" above the sharps?
>   Any comments would be welcome.
>
>Avery


Charles K. Ball, RPT
School of Music
The University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX 78731
512-467-1535