<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"><tr><td valign="top" style="font: inherit;"><div>The only "sensible" explanation which occurs to me is that the absence of a mass of relatively softer material within the piano allows more of some partials to recirculate through the system and back to the board, to be transduced into sound. But even I, adamant proponent of the "Recirculating Vibration Theory",* am doubtful that , in the case of keybed punchings, it would amount to enough to be perceived by most listeners. So I'll propose another theory: that the mind can only be truly focused on one aspect at any given moment, hence, if part of it is distracted by an uneven, "squishy" feel beneath the fingers and how to accommodate this during the act of playing, the sound will be PERCEIVED as "less focused". (i.e. Is it the room that's blurry, or one's eyes?)<br /><br />Thumpe<br /><br />*Which explains, for example, why old American pianos
with densely hardwood rims and/or cases project a more "focused tone" than those (such as many current imports) made with softer woods, in my opinion. That said, the wisdom of purchasing a clean, new piano, over some smelly, beat up, but once-glorious sounding hulk can not be denied for purchasers without the means for a total rebuild. Which brings me back to last week's unanswered question: someone told me that boatfuls of magnificent, old, American pianos are being shipped to China for rebuilding. (Confirmation, anyone???) </div></td></tr></table> <div id="_origMsg_">
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Mark Schecter <mark@schecterpiano.com>; <br>
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pianotech@ptg.org <pianotech@ptg.org>; <br>
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Re: [pianotech] Cresendo Punchings was RE: Hammer Blow <br>
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Thu, Oct 11, 2012 6:37:28 AM <br>
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<td valign="top" style="font:inherit;">Yes, sensible would be ideal. <BR><BR>One thing I would believe possible (not having tested the theory), is that the differently dense punching produces a different impact noise when the key hits it. But while that changes the overall sound, I can't get from there to "focusing the tone". Jon, can you or can someone else who has also perceived this please explain what happens? Thanks. <BR><BR>~Mark Schecter<BR><BR>On Oct 10, 2012, at 11:09 PM, Ron Nossaman <<a ymailto="mailto:rnossaman@cox.net" href="javascript:return">rnossaman@cox.net</a>> wrote:<BR><BR>> On 10/10/2012 4:06 PM, Mark Schecter wrote:<BR>>> I've heard that said before, but I can't come up with a theory that<BR>>> explains HOW a punching that is not contacted until after the hammer<BR>>> has disconnected from the key, can affect the tone? I'd be very<BR>>> interested if anyone can
provide an explanation. Thanks.<BR>>> <BR>>> ~Mark Schecter<BR>> <BR>> You mean a sensible one? I've heard the same thing said of back check height, but never the two mentioned together. Odd, seems like a natural pairing.<BR>> Ron N<BR>> <BR></td>
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