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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hey there! Hold hard! what's all this:
"especially on a work of art whose construction and design and =
function is
shrouded is so much mysticism" bit Monseur Farrell? A work of "art" =
forsooth!
When the strings have negative downbearing on the speaking side that's =
not a
"work of art" that's a downright problem! What the pianists extract from =
the
instrument is "art" - and in order that they should be able =
to do so,
the instrument should conform to all the criteria of the S&S =
Workshop
Manual. capisce?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>(or am I not reading the message =
correctly? :-)
)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Michael G.(UK)</FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; =
BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: =
black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com
href="mailto:mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com">Farrell</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A =
title=pianotech@ptg.org
href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">Pianotech</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Saturday, July 09, 2005 =
2:18
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: Stienway(Steinway) =
d-rolled
bridge saga- report</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Oh David! Have no fear! My eyes =
bugged out when I
read the original post. I was muttering all sorts of =
expletives to
myself as I read much of it. But I didn't say too much for two =
reasons:
1) the original post indicated that Steinway reps were going to =
inspect
the piano in the near future - so I figured let's let them take a look =
and see
what they say; and 2) I wouldn't expect much better from them or any =
other
manufacturer anyway - especially on a work of art whose construction =
and
design and function is shrouded is so much mysticism.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I had a similar experience when I =
bought a new
1098 back in the mid 1990s. That piano had a full 1/4-inch of reverse
soundboard crown, the pinblock was separated from the backposts (you =
could
slip a business card down into the crack), and on several notes in the =
middle
of the keyboard a little green man down inside the piano would come =
out every
time you played one of those notes and would ring an =
annoying little
bell.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Both the dealer and Steinway techs =
said there was
no problem with the reverse crown - I called NY several times asking =
to speak
to a technical representative and two of the three I talked to did not =
know if
Steinway pianos were supposed to have positive crown (concave on the
rear/bottom). They did recognize the pinblock/backpost problem, but =
their
solution was to simply route out a small groove on the pinblock top =
and glue
in a strip of wood to cover up the crack (no clamps, no through-bolts, =
and
most importantly - no new piano). The head of Steinway's concert techs =
(Patton
I think, I forget his first name) from NY listened to the little bell =
man and
after quite a bit of poking and prodding decided it was likely the =
v-bar
casting and nothing could be done about it - however, the local dealer =
tech
had the nerve to suggest that we would "get used to it".</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>So no, this letter wasn't news to me, =
however it
is indeed an interesting situation.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>So if you're looking for comments at =
this time,
I'll bite - here goes!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Lines with the ">>" are from =
David R's
original post on this topic.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>>>Concerning the =
bridge/downbearing, let's
keep an eye<BR>>>on this if the buzzes have been eliminated for
the<BR>>>time being. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Okay, here is our opening prayer that =
the problem
will just go away by itself - or at least the piano owner will not =
notice it
in the future.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>>>While it presents a situation =
to<BR>>>keep an eye on, I do not want to make an
immediate<BR>>>pronouncement that there is something wrong =
there.
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Believe me, nor will they EVER =
"....make an
immediate pronouncement that there is something wrong there." That's =
what
voicing needles are for!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>>>The<BR>>>primary thing =
that
manufacturers look for is<BR>>>the total composite bearing on =
the front
and back<BR>>>combined. This should, of course, be a
positive<BR>>>bearing. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>"Should" be positive bearing? Does =
this mean
negative total bearing can be okay?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>>>Theoretically, there should =
be positive
front<BR>>>and back bearing. However, pianos seldom conform
to<BR>>>the theoretically correct.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>This was the ultimate. These words =
clearly
suggest that seldom does a new piano have positive front AND back =
bearing.
WOW! That's a mouthful. Think about that for a =
minute. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Let me tell you: Every piano that I =
have put a
new soundboard in has both front and rear positive bearing on every =
string!
Not only that, the bearing on every string falls within a relatively =
narrow
target range. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I guess if you throw a bunch of =
spruce flitches,
some glue, and some piano wire into a pot and stir it up, that
would likely yield an assembly that "...seldom =
conform(s) to
the theoretically correct." This is lunacy.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>>>I have taken many
bearing<BR>>>measurements - on both good sounding
and<BR>>>not-so-good sounding pianos. Some of the best
sounding<BR>>>pianos have exhibited the measurements you
describe<BR>>>below while some of the lesser sounding
pianos<BR>>>are textbook perfect. The downward forces of
the<BR>>>strings over the bridges (anywhere from 800 - 1100
lbs<BR>>>of force) cause each piano to develop its =
own<BR>>>unique
shape.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>What that really means is that some =
pianos appear
to survive the manufacturing process and seem okay when they go out =
the
factory door. But some pianos have collapsed soundboards before they =
even
leave the factory. They really put a half-ton of downbearing on a new
Steinway? That's a whole lot!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I guess this "unique (soundboard) =
shape" is
likely a key to each piano having it's own personality.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>>>Sometimes that "settling" can =
be<BR>>>measured to exhibit what we technicians commonly
cause<BR>>>bridge roll. That in itself is not a great
cause<BR>>>for concern but rather a sign that we need to
monitor<BR>>>this in case tonal issues arise consistently with
a<BR>>>piano.<BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>What the &*%# is this crap? Just =
like we need
to monitor a pinblock/back separation on a new piano? Maybe we just =
need to
monitor it and if the plate doesn't crack and the piano fold up like a =
suitcase before the warranty period ends, we have no problem? Maybe =
here is
the real application for CA and bridge pins - if the strings keep =
creeping up
the bridge pins because of negative front bearing, tap the strings =
down and
glue them in place with CA! Personally, such "settling" would indeed =
be a
"great cause of concern" if that were my piano.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><BR><FONT face=Arial size=2>>>In my experience, seating =
and
leveling the strings,<BR>>>hammer filing, voicing meticulously, =
hammer
spacing,<BR>>>and making sure the bridge pins are seated
in<BR>>>the bridges alleviate any tonal problems 98% of
the<BR>>>time. You MAY have one of the "2% pianos" there
but<BR>>>let's wait and see if problems develop =
again<BR>>>before
we determine a course of action.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>No. IMHO, this is a mis-statement. =
What really is
meant is that you may be one of the 2% of <EM><U>piano owners</U></EM> =
that
won't give up and won't believe all the crap excuses and hand waving =
and story
telling that the manufacturer spews out in an effort to wear you
down.<BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>BUT. As I stated earlier. Let's not =
jump to any
conclusions. Let's wait to hear what transpires during the upcoming
inspection...... ;-)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Terry Farrell</DIV></FONT>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>----- Original Message ----- </FONT>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>From: "David Skolnik" <</FONT><A
href="mailto:davidskolnik@optonline.net"><FONT face=Arial
size=2>davidskolnik@optonline.net</FONT></A><FONT face=Arial
size=2>></FONT></DIV></DIV><BR><FONT face=Arial size=2>> I =
just had
occasion to read this thread. I need to leave for an early =
<BR>>
tuning (Steinway D, in fact), so I can't afford the tortured sessions =
it
<BR>> usually takes me to excrete even a few sentences. =
Perhaps I'll
try later <BR>> this evening. I am, however, dismayed that, =
among
other things, the <BR>> manufacturers response seems to elicit only =
mild
consternation on the part <BR>> of list responders. I too =
have gotten
similar response, though not <BR>> written, over the years. =
Why is
there not outrage on this list over this <BR>> situation? Are =
we
still so afraid of the manufactures long reach and <BR>> memory? I
am. But what would the technical community's response be if they =
<BR>> presented such claims at a class at a convention, or in their =
promotional <BR>> material? What is a warrantee =
worth?
David R has made this <BR>> public. Assuming his assessment =
and
observations are correct, what does it <BR>> mean for any of us (or =
our
clients) if we cannot see this situation <BR>> successfully
resolved?<BR>> <BR>> David Skolnik</FONT> =
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