Bob: I realize after reading your post again that you don't necessarily say that the front weights are high, just that they are as high as you would like them. But my experience with many Baldwins (not all) is that they have unacceptably high action ratios which, when combined with even medium weight hammers, produce rather unpleasant actions to play. I have found that capstan relocation to achieve a reasonable action ratio has produced the best results. On occasion, with older Baldwins, I have not been able to move the capstan far enough without having to jump through hoops with the relocation of the wippen cushion (key ratios up around .60 or higher) and an assist spring has been needed to achieve the desired result. I don't really like to go to an ultra light hammer on an SD-10, or its equivalent, though my objection might be less strenuous than some. I have not had the feedback from pianists that play these pianos that a high ratio action was the reason they preferred to play them. I can say that I have had pianists object to the way they (Baldwins) have played and have been called upon to modify the touchweight dynamics accordingly. In these cases I have, in my usual fashion, aimed for a 5.6 - 5.7 action ratio with strike weights that bring the front weights comfortably below maximums (10 - 15%). I have yet to have a complaint with this approach, at least not that I have heard about. David Love ----- Original Message ----- From: "David Love" <davidlovepianos@earthlink.net> To: "Pianotech" <pianotech@ptg.org> Sent: December 10, 2002 3:51 PM Subject: Re: BaldwinSF-10 It's a little hard to talk about these things without the actual numbers, but if a medium to low medium zone hammer/strike weight produces a relatively high front weight pattern, then it suggests that the ratio is in the higher range. David Love ----- Original Message ----- From: <BobDavis88@aol.com> To: <pianotech@ptg.org> Sent: December 10, 2002 8:37 AM Subject: Re: BaldwinSF-10 They say that you don't have to worry about talking to yourself, just when you answer. That considered, I'm replying to my own mail (below). David Love suggested capstan relocation. The particular piano I referred to in that note [Baldwin SD-10] actually had a pretty good action ratio. A 10 mm dip would produce a blow of only 1-3/4". It was also already leaded as far as I was comfortable with. Since lighter hammers sounded good, that was the way we went. I might add that these Renner Blues were not what I would consider "light" by any means, even after prep and filing. More like medium to low medium, if memory serves. We do service a 40's Baldwin L that regulates to 9.5 mm x 1-7/8". Bob In a message dated 12/09/2002 7:38:58 PM Pacific Standard Time, BobDavis88@aol.com writes: > In a message dated 12/09/2002 7:02:37 PM Pacific Standard Time, > davidlovepianos@earthlink.net writes: > > > Isaac hammers would also sound good on this piano. > > Yes they would. I think very elastic hammers help Baldwins of all size and > age even more than they help other makes. > > I also second Dale's comment about the checking the leverage carefully. I > suggested Ronsen hammers for an SD-10 recently for that reason, but the > client insisted on Renner Blues. We tapered and coved all we could and still > > had to file them rather severely to get the strike weight down to a > reasonable balance without raising the leading into the "inertia zone." > _______________________________________________ pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives _______________________________________________ pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives
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