SW heresy?

[Richard Brekne]

Hi David

I dont think its unreasonable too associate Steinways hammer weights as 
roughly linear as Ray and others do.  Certainly the curve is much flater 
then your own curves.  As for whether or not it is their intent as Sarah 
(I think)  ponders is another thing.

I would like to comment on Sarahs origional post tho.  Assuming there is 
some value to correlating hammer weight to string mass/ length... or for 
that matter some combination of that combined with SB impedance 
characteristics... Stanwoods and other similiar balance formulars still 
lend themselves perfectly to ariving at whatever key mass is needed to  
counter balance (static balance)  any chosen hammer weight.

I would also like to mention that given what we know about the dominance 
of hammer inertia with regard to the total dynamic weight of the action, 
the value of very evenly graduated hammers weights is unquestionable 
IMHO.  

That said,  awareness that both static and dynamic action weight are 
intrinsically connected in the pianists mind to the far more general 
sensation of piano output for finger input, which gets immediatly into a 
host of other issues, is simply a must for any pianotechnician who would 
successfully employ any balancing method.  This fact is probably the 
main reason pianomanufacturers have carried on quite well without any 
more sophistication then simple DW measurements for well over 100 years, 
and why increasing numbers of technicians evidently seem to find 
themselves content with that basic method.  Tho personally I see this as 
a step backwards.

Stanwood pointed the way to a methodology that provides perfect static 
counterbalancing, which indirectly also supports no small  degree of 
lateral dynamic evenenss. When used judiciously,  his basic philosophy 
can be employed to significantly enhance the sensation of evenness the 
action offers the pianist. Of that, there should be no doubt what so 
ever IMV.

Cheers
RicB

>
>> Apparently Steinway strives for linearity in hammer weight for whatever
>> reasons.  Considering that what I have is a D clone, more or less, I
>> should probably strive to preserve the linearity of the D-styled
>> hammers.
>
>
> I think you misunderstood Ray... NY Steinway hammers are Rarely 
> linear.  They often start out in the 1/2 medium zone and end up in the 
> 1/2 high zone before nose diving in the high treble.  Exceptions abound!
>
> David Stanwood
> _______________________________________________
> pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives
>