More Square questions

[Farrell]

Score a big 1 for Joe. "Cheek Lift". Amazing. My square has a full 1/4" of
"cheek lift" at the front right corner - and that is with having had the
plate out for the last several months. As flat as the plate is, I can easily
imagine that the strings really are able to put a bend in the plate. So now
I wonder what this might do to my meticulously calculated downbearing -
especially near the middle of the plate - like in the tenor. Hmmmm - it will
be interesting. Maybe when I rescale, I need to go real LOW tension - so
that the piano doesn't fold up like a suitcase in the cartoons! How do
cat-gut guitar strings work on pianos - do they make long ones?

As for the need to completely return key of square to resting position prior
to repeating note, I have never checked that. I will inspect when able to do
so. Thank you for pointing it out - I can easily see where that would make a
difference.

Thanks for all your input Joe, I really appreciate it.

Terry Farrell

----- Original Message -----
From: "Joseph Garrett" <joegarrett@earthlink.net>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Wednesday, September 19, 2001 12:55 PM
Subject: More Square questions


> Terry,
> Refer back to my lengthy explanation of the inconsistancies of the scale
> itself. With the overwhelming imbalances in the scale, the volume and
tonal
> production of the Square is out of balance with itself. To put it another
> way: If you play the low A, it has a big round sound, similar to larger
> grands. ( the bridge is in an area that allows flexibiltiy of vibration
w/a
> long back section for the string). An octave above the sound thins out and
> gets nastier towards the treble. This, IMHO, distorts the players concept
of
> real piano sound.
> As for "Cheek Lift", this is the problem created when the case warps. The
> strings are basically diagonal in the case, hence the tension is pulling
> from the "far left, (bass), end of the piano to the "near right", (treble)
> end of the piano. The first thing I do, when encountering a Square for the
> first time, is walk up to the right end of the piano, put both hands on
the
> corner and put all my weight on that corner. If the piano rocks, then it
has
> cheek lift. Of course, if the piano is placed on a thick carpet or if the
> client/mover has shimmed the casters, then this test will not work. An
> alternative would be to carry an 8' straight edge with you and check the
> bottom of the piano for curvature. Hope this clears up those questions.
> Best Regards,
> Joe Garrett, (Oregon)
> P.S.
> Yes, a nasty spinet does play better than a Square Grand! Try this test:
> play a note on a modern grand. Slowly let the key rise to the first 1/3 of
> the key stroke and then push down again. The note will play! Play note on
a
> modern Upright, (even a nasty spinet), do the same until the key is
approx.
> 1/2 of its stroke, push down and the note will play! In the Square grand:
> you play the note and then you MUST allow the key to come all the way up
to
> "rest" position before it will play again! In other words, you have to
take
> your finger COMPLETELY off of the key for it to repeat again! This really
> will screw up a student's timing and physical attack.
> P.S.S.
> I really wish that all techs would quit bashing Spinets. All though they
are
> not the ideal, they do provide a decent living for a lot of techs, because
> there are so many of them out there. (ie don't bite the hand that feeds
> you!) <grin>
> Joe
>
>