What matters most?

[David Love]

Actually, I think from the pianist's point of view it's about control.  If
it were just about acceleration and velocity, then the low inertia, low
mass would rule.  But it doesn't.  Pianists want acceleration and velocity,
but they want to be able to control it.  And to control it, you must have
some resistance to it.  That is the irony.   So when Rick Baldassin added
lead to the back of those keys to increase the inertia without increasing
the "weight", that person, presumably, felt they could not control the
action and needed more resistance, or tactile feedback via inertia.  It's a
fine balancing act that we must do.  And it would be a mistake to seek to
have inertia which is too low, IMO.  That's the low SW zone, low SWR that
is to be avoided.    Interestingly, one of the problems with upright
actions, I would bet, is the low inertia  that comes of pushing the hammer
forward rather than lifting it out on the end of a series of levers. 
Without the "benefit" of having to lift the hammer, and the higher inertia
that comes  with it, you get less inertial resistance, less tactile
feedback and less control.   

David Love
davidlovepianos@earthlink.net


> [Original Message]
> From: Mark Davidson <mark.davidson@mindspring.com>
> To: Pianotech <pianotech@ptg.org>
> Date: 8/23/2003 5:14:43 PM
> Subject: What matters most?
>
>From the pianist's point of view it's about
> acceleration and velocity.