Bøsendorfers, was : Buttressed Arch. Question for Ron N. - increasing rim density

[Ric Brekne]

Ed, Ron and others:

This is all fine and well... except for the bit about Hamburg Steinways. 
They use the same materials for their rims as the NY pianos do.  They 
used to use Mahogany but changed over several years ago. I think you 
have to look for another explanation for any percieved lack of power.  
And on that point, I cant really say I agree.  Some years ago I was 
fortunate enough to attend a demonstration of a Hamburg Steinway and a 
Yamaha CF III in London. A very large hall with both pianos side by 
side.  Same pianist, same music... the Yamaha simply died at 50 paces 
but as far back as the hall went the Steinway cut through the air like 
crystal of the finest order.  As for Bosies... I havent had the chance 
of direct comparison, but I have heard Imperials on occasion and cant 
say I found any lack of power.  Rather, and this agrees with most 
pianist comments I've heard on the matter... there is a steeper power 
curve. Pianists speak of having to drive a Bosie compared to cruising a 
Steinway.

Another question comes to mind since you site more power.... Power is 
the tradeoff for sustain when talking about impedance issues in 
pianos... yes ?  So if we can claim more power AND more sustain because 
of the rim conditions, then a good explanation as to how this works is 
in order me thinks.

Cheers
RicB

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Ric writes:
<<  Given the Bosies solution, one would be tempted to consider that 
rock hard rims are not a neccessity for good tone at all.... >>

Greetings,
     Maybe not neccessary for tone, but I don't think the difference is so
much in the tone as the power.  Even going over 9 feet doesn't make an 
Imperial
more powerful in the back of the hall than your average, run of the mill,
Steinway D.  Most all the Bosendorfer pianos I have seen had tone out 
the whazoo,
(for the non-native readers, whazoo is a technical term that means "a 
lot"),
but there was a ceiling to their volume.  Players have mentioned that the
European pianos like Bosendorfer, Bechstein, and Hamburg Steinways sound 
beautiful,
but when played increasingly harder, reach a point of power saturation, 
after
which nothing else happens.  In comparison, the New York D will usually
continue to deliver more as long as it is played harder, regardless.  
     I think the maple contributes to this characteristic.  The Mason's,
Chickerings (some), Baldwins and Steinways, as well as a slew of long-gone
American brands, used maple and with good/new boards, most all these 
pianos will have
unsurpassed power in comparison to their lighter wood-rim  counterparts.
Regards,



Ed Foote RPT
http://www.uk-piano.org/edfoote/index.html
www.uk-piano.org/edfoote/well_tempered_piano.html