[pianotech] Steinway Model "O"

[Overs Pianos]

Hi Joe,

I would agree that the more collapsed the panel, in general, the 
better will be the tuning stability, provided that the seniority of 
the instrument isn't also accompanied with a development of poor 
string rendering, which is common with S&S and the myriad others who 
have longish/stiff under-string felt with unhardened and wide-ish 
counter-bearing bars. But if the rendering is fine, a dead board will 
invariably result in outstanding stability.

Ron O.

>I have a client with a S&S Model "O". (early version of the current Model
>"L"). The piano was his Mother's piano. When it first arrived, I assessed
>it's condition and told the client that the piano was "shot". The
>soundboard had many screws through to ribs to curtail buzzes. Lots of
>cracks in the board. The Killer Octave had reduced sustain. Basic S.B.
>shape was a "W"! Y'all know the symptoms, (or at least your should<G>). The
>basic design of the Bass bridge was wrong, (no pairs of bi-chord strings
>were equal, causing difficulty in unison tuning). And, there were hair-line
>cracks at the bridge pins. Bass tone/projection was adequate. Several loose
>tuning pins were noted with the initial tuning process. Tonal condition of
>the strings is good.
>The action was really toast! All original and 90 years old!l Plus, major
>Vertigris problems. The dampers were still working, so not in the mix of
>"problems". <G> Original finish?, ......Alligatored..Major! The client
>doesn't care about the "finish".<G>
>I have since CA'd the loose tuning pins. The bass bridge I can live with.
>The piano is in a small, acoustically "live", living room, so lack of
>power, is not an issue. The lack of sustain in the killer octave does not
>bother the owner, since the piano is used mainly in string quartet chamber
>music sort of thangs. Also, the action has been completely rebuilt, w/new
>N.Y. Parts and Wurzen Hammers. At this point the piano is extremely stable,
>especially in the killer octave. It sounds great in this environment, imo
>and the owners.<G>
>This leads me to a question: Because the soundboard is "shot", I suspect
>that the tuning stability is due to the fact that the soundboard is not as
>reactive to climatic changes, as would a new "lively" board. Any one care
>to comment?<G>
>Regards,
>
>Joe Garrett, R.P.T.
>Captain of the Tool Police
>Squares R I


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