Steinway Sustain

[antares]

OK..
it sounds like the old lemon...

I am obviously not familiar with your professional situation, but if (if)
the problem is structural, I think I would give up and concentrate on the
next grand.
However, several great techs (hey! including me!) have given you all the
answers there are, so you must be able to at least improve da situation.

As I am specialized in actionwork, tuning, and voicing, I would stick to
replacing the hammers, and do the best job ever.

They're probably not willing to pay more than that anyway.

Most elevated greetings,

André Oorebeek

PS.

Howsa da wetter ove'dere ?

I'm jealous in advance!

> From: "Tony Caught" <caute@optusnet.com.au>
> Reply-To: pianotech@ptg.org
> Date: Tue, 17 Apr 2001 00:33:25 +0930
> To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
> Subject: Re: Steinway Sustain
> 
> André, Ron, Kevin, David, David, Roger and Newton
> 
> The history of this piano is that it was sold by Allans in Melbourne at a
> very cheap price on the recommendation of a well known pianist at a very
> cheap price.  I suspect that many techs in Melbourne have tried to fix the
> problem but can't. Thus the price.  AU$27,500.00.
> 
> Have regulated the action some time ago to 1mm and spent a few hours filing
> hammers, mating to the strings, setting hammer strike etc but the problem
> stayed about the same. Its probably due for another major regulation but I
> don't think that's it.
> 
> Hammers are hard, have thought of changing them but have doubts that this
> will fix the problem, maybe give me a better tone but not fix the problem.
> 
> I have a gut feeling that the problem is related to the aliquot bar or the
> soundboard.
> Didn't think that a soundboard design would be a problem with a Steinway.
> 
> The sustain has the same problem wether plucked or struck, seems to rule out
> the hammers and regulation.  From memory the problem area is related to  one
> section  of the aliquot system and I thought at the time that maybe that
> section was not seated properly, not sure.
> 
> I am trying to decide on which path of attack to go.
> 
> Check the downbearing between bridge and aliquot, board crown, ribs, liners,
> bridge pins, weight the soundboard down to stiffen it (is a great idea)
> analize results.
> 
> A Steinway is a Steinway, its still the best piano in town, I want it
> better, I don't ever want a complaint.  It has the tone, is clear of sound,
> easy to tune, rock solid but.
> 
> You know what I mean.
> 
> Being the only tech in town I am often flat out, never make money (forget to
> raise prices every year). Not having any peers to talk to or discuss
> problems sometime makes this a lonely job.
> 
> Thanks guys,
> 
> Tony Caught
> 
>