<HTML> <HEAD> <TITLE>Re: Stuart Piano</TITLE> </HEAD> <BODY> From: Mark Bolsius <markbolsius@optusnet.com.au> Date: Fri, 19 Sep 2003 18:39:11 +1000 To: <pianotech-request@ptg.org> Subject: Re Stuart Piano Hi all, I've just returned to the pianotech list after several years away from it..= ..I don't know if I have the time yet to keep up...but here goes! Re the Stuart, I had my first chance to look at and do a tiny bit of playin= g on one a couple of weeks ago at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. They'v= e just taken delivery of a brand new one. Mr Stuart himself had only finishe= d the installation prep a few days before, so this little guy was as good as= it could be (without having any "playing in"). RicB your trip to Newcastle will be longer than you think...it's Newcastle = Australia where they are made! Not Newcastle England. I know Ron O would have a few observations about it, but I know he has his = head down at the moment working on finishing the two pianos in his workshop.= It's certainly a very different kettle of fish if you are comparing with St= einway. The sound is quite coloured and varies a lot from one section to ano= ther. RicB Your comment about the octave F4 to F6 is quite accurate, althoug= h I'd put it a little higher than that. That area gets very choked on fortis= simo playing. I suspect that the action rails are too flexible and the dista= nce between action standards too great causing the hammers to block in the m= iddle of the section. The belly is huge with quite short ribs and a light soundboard. I can't ver= ify this, but I believe the crown is also quite low. I can't remember if the= riobs were fanned _ I don't think so, but I'll accept whatever someone else= who's seen might say. The hitch pins are adjustable but not like the Baldwi= n pins, they are screw adjustable. The whole design makes for a piano that d= elivers quite interesting sounds at low to medium volume, but I can't say I = enjoyed the fortissimo and above. This confirmed what I had heard on recordi= ngs prior to seeing it. The aggraffes are right the way through the piano. He uses Steel wrapped ba= ss strings which accounts for a different sound. the cross over is not pleas= ant, and as I've already said there are several changes in tone and envelope= over the whole 8 octave range of the keyboard (that's right folks 8 octaves= - F0 to F8!! Find an accuTuner or RCT to tune those last couple!) What I really enjoyed was the pianissimo playing and possibilities - it has= four pedals Damper, sostenuto, una corda and half blow. The combination of = half blow and una corda made for the most delicate and controlled softs I've= ever experienced. The other thing is the aesthetic - It's quite beautiful the cabinet is an A= ustralian Cedar (they also can be finished in birds-eye Huon pine, another A= ustralian wood from way down south in Tasmania (get your atlases out everyon= e). The standard of finish is impeccable, even the backposts underneath are = as smooth as ... Wayne Stuart, the creator, is aiming for something very different, and he's= certainly done that. It won't be everyone's cup of tea, but he's selling a = few...I believe Rowan Atkinson the English comedian/actor has bought one.<BR= > I also had the recent opportunity to do some servicing on one of Ron Overs = early pianos...given the choice I'd take his home over the Stuart any day of= the week! Just my humble opinion. Looking forward to participating more in the future Cheers Mark Bolsius Canberra Australia (Go on get that world atlas out and see where it is!!) </BODY> </HTML>