[pianotech] back to the Tone question in the modern piano, please

[Tony Caught]

Hi Jim,

The two questions I meant to ask,

1 What can be done to improve the tone of the modern piano.

2 Does the modern piano need to be improved in tone.

My reference to the modern piano goes from maybe 1960's on as being the
modern piano.
The time era when the construction of the piano changed to make them
cheaper. An example would be :- Soundboards in the older piano was thinner
in the bass section and thicker in the treble section. Graded of course as
per the individual firm or soundboard planer. In many modern pianos the
soundboard is the same thickness throughout.
Music teachers in the 1970's didn't like Yamahas, sounded tinny etc., then
the universities bought them cheap and in bulk to teach on. Now the new
music teacher has grown up with a new sound and says that the Yamaha is a
good sound.
There is a difference in the sound of pianos as to where they are
manufactured. The three most common are European, American and Asian.

I prefer the sound of the older European or American piano to the more
common (today) Asian piano. In most cases. Some Kawai's have the sound of
Europe, and so forth.

Thus we have the two questions. What can be done to improve the tone of the
modern piano - and - does it need improving.

If we go back in the history of the piano, yes you have a point. Once upon a
time piano manufacturers were exactly that. They made pianos. Then came the
industrial revolution and the mechanised age where furniture manufacturers
started making pianos about 1880's. But, many or most of these pianos were
made from parts or sections made by piano manufacturers. Ie. The strung
back. The action, the keyboard etc.

I think a statement made in the Blue Book of something like " the quality
piano of today is made in the old fashion way"

What I want to know is how can I improve the treble in a modern piano or is
it not worth the effort.

Tony
 
Tony Caught
acaught at internode.on.net


-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of jimialeggio
Sent: Thursday, 20 May 2010 9:45 AM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] back to the Tone question in the modern piano,
please

Tony,

If I'm reading the wording of your question correctly, I think you're 
asking 2 different questions.  Could you clarify these points:

This first one seems to be aesthetic
> On reading these words it again reminded me of why I (in general) prefer
the
> sound of the older pianos. Be it the shape of the soundboard, the tension
of
> the string or the hardness of the hammer, the older pianos in my opinion
> gave a harmonically richer tone with greater sustain than there
comparative
> model it today's stable of pianos.
>
> The question I am asking is two fold. What can be done to improve the tone
> of the modern piano. or, Does the modern piano need to be improved in
tone.
>   

And this second is referring to design issues, I think, independent  of 
aesthetic design decisions.. I think?..
> Personally I find that the majority of modern pianos above C7 totally
> lacking in any sense of harmonicity and the last 4 top notes have no
> discernable tone at all. I know I am going deaf but then I tune an older
> piano that's in good condition (the last one was a Steingraber upright)
and
> I could hear every note with a clarity and harmonicity that I can enjoy.
>
> So to the nitty gritty. For the first part of the question.
>
> How can you improve the tone of a modern piano in the upper treble region
>   

So are you interested in the aesthetic question, or is you question 
simply whats wrong with the top octave?

If your are also interested in the aesthetic question, what do you refer 
to as the modern piano. I see the the modern piano is kind of a 
continuum from the big power push in, what, 1860ish, to now.

Just interested in your point of view.

Jim I


-- 
Jim Ialeggio
grandpianosolutions.com
978- 425-9026
Shirley, MA