[pianotech] WNG Parts Question

[William Truitt]

Well said, JD.  

Will

-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of John Delacour
Sent: Wednesday, June 23, 2010 1:28 PM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] WNG Parts Question

At 06:46 -0700 23/6/10, David Love wrote:

>OK but others describe continuing problems.  Unlike you I have used 
>Renner parts continuously for a long time now and rarely have 
>problems (I can't remember the last time).  Available configurations 
>vary as well so I'm still wondering, what's the advantage that 
>compensates for some production and design items that still seem 
>unresolved.  I'm all for updated technology and have no qualms about 
>the next best thing, but only if it is.  So, is it?

Well, it might be when they've sorted out the teething problems, as 
they seem to be doing.  I understand that they still have a few 
wooden actions for the Mason and Hamlin production and when they are 
used up all M&H will be fitted with the plastic actions, so they have 
every reason to make sure they get things right very soon in their 
own interests.

I get the impression that there have been blind spots in the design 
process, but the market will very quickly throw light on these and 
force improvements.  After all, you're not going to make such a huge 
design decision and invest that much effort and money in a new thing 
only to let the project fail through plain pig-headedness, are you?

As to whether it's the next best thing, I would have preferred not to 
have to deal with a certain degree of hype and just get the plain 
facts, but perhaps that's not the way things are sold.  For example 
in order to sell the carbon tube shanks, they give the implicit 
impression that wooden shanks are unpredictable and inferior -- in 
effect that all grand actions since the year dot have been 
sub-standard.  When you read the blurb more carefully, you discover 
that they claim only that the carbon tube shanks are as good as the 
best wooden shanks, and more consistent.  It would be interesting to 
know why Kawai, who have used plastic parts for 20 years, with all 
the resources at their disposal still use wooden shanks.

As Ron pointed out, it would be obvious to any experienced technician 
that to rely on white glue to secure a wooden hammer-head to a nylon 
shank, relying on a purely mechanical glue bond is not going to work. 
It seems odd that they've only just discovered it when a lot of 
people would have seen the design of the joint as fundamental.  I've 
also expressed surprise at the fact that the drill bit supplied by 
WNG is not brad-pointed.  I shall not be using their bit, which 
cannot fail to wander, and shall be using a Fuller bit with the brad 
point.

The fact that at least two people have found the stainless steel 
spring unmanageable also seems to point to a certain thoughtlessness.

I wish them well, and I'll also look forward to seeing the new Mason 
& Hamlins at Frankfurt next year.  All I wish is that they'd been a 
bit more adventurous and actually innovated or copied better things 
rather than stick rigidly to the tired old Steinway design.  The 
thing is new as regards materials, but far from innovative or 
revolutionary, just like everything else in today's boring old piano 
industry.

JD