<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; = charset=windows-1250"> <TITLE>Message</TITLE> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.2604" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV><SPAN class=015572901-07032005><FONT = face=Arial>Michael</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=015572901-07032005><FONT = face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=015572901-07032005><FONT face=Arial>I'll try to = communicate with you but I always have trouble talking to people from Jolly Olde = because I don't speak actual English. Ha. </FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=015572901-07032005><FONT = face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=015572901-07032005><FONT face=Arial>Actually, it's = funny: I had a client once with a VERY thick, you-should-pardon-the-expression, = English accent. He sounded like his mother was Aberdeen Scot, his father from = Australia, both parents and all his teachers and friends had speech defects, raised = in the East End next to an all-night foundry, mostly deaf himself, and the = neighboring flat was inhabited by Rock musicians on drugs. Man, he = was hard to understand. Anyhow, he'd been in the States for about 10 years and = told me that when he goes home (England) to visit family, everyone he runs = into thinks he's an American and has a hard time understanding him!!!    It's a rum old world, as they (you) might say.</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=015572901-07032005><FONT = face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=015572901-07032005><FONT face=Arial>String seating = should read "string prep," or some such, and include leveling, coil tightening, = agraffe/capo dressing, and all of that. Bridge pin stabilisation is, maybe, a word I = made up but I mean slightly tapping the pins in as needed, adding CA (or epoxy = in bad cases) as needed, checking the notching job, checking downbearing, and = all that stuff to minimize false beats, high partial buzz or whine, etc. I just = didn't say it very well in my post.</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=015572901-07032005><FONT face=Arial>Ciao for niao,</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=015572901-07032005><FONT = face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2>Alan R. = Barnard</FONT></DIV> <DIV align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2>Salem, MO</FONT></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV></DIV> <DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader lang=en-us dir=ltr = align=left><FONT face=Tahoma size=2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B> = Michael Gamble [mailto:michael@gambles.fsnet.co.uk] <BR><B>Sent:</B> Sunday, March = 06, 2005 11:14 AM<BR><B>To:</B> Alan<BR><B>Cc:</B> = pianotech@ptg.org<BR><B>Subject:</B> Re: Modern Tone II, the Return of the Question<BR><BR></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hello Alan and List</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I really would like some = amplification on the subjects of:</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>1. String seating</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>2. Bridge pin = stabilisation</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Any offers?</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Regards from Sussex</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Michael G.(UK)</FONT></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr 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=tune4u@earthlink.net = href="mailto:tune4u@earthlink.net">Alan</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> Sunday, March 06, 2005 = 6:08 AM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> RE: Modern Tone II, = the Return of the Question</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=203062905-06032005><FONT face=Arial>David, et al,</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=203062905-06032005><FONT face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=203062905-06032005><FONT face=Arial>Well said. </FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=203062905-06032005><FONT face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=203062905-06032005><FONT face=Arial>I DID play = the '28 D that you and Dale had in Sacramento (already posted a comment to = Dale). I sat down at that piano and the first thing I played was an octave in = the low bass. It was the most beautiful sound I've ever heard from a piano, = bar none, I exaggerate not.</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=203062905-06032005><FONT face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=203062905-06032005><FONT face=Arial>Please = understand that I live in that mysterious part of the world where old Lesters, = Winters, Wurlys, Chicks, Gulbransens, and Starks come to die. I tune 3 small = Steinway grands, one new (Chinese) Steck grand, one (bless them) nice = M&H, a couple of older small Baldwin grands, and a boatload of Hamilton = studios (some nearly new, one that served on Noah's cruise ship, I = think, and was worn out then). Only the Mason is big enough and nice enough to = qualify as an RPT test piano and I've only seen it once, so = far.</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=203062905-06032005><FONT face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=203062905-06032005><FONT face=Arial>So I can = sure hear and appreciate good voicing but, as you say, it is hard to = communicate with words. And I only have an intellectual, theoretical idea = how it's produced, not the skills to do it. </FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=203062905-06032005><FONT face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=203062905-06032005><FONT face=Arial>I'm going = to spend time in Frank Henderson's shop doing some work in exchange for some = coaching on this. I honestly think voicing is a skill that cannot be learned = from a book and on one's own. I don't think one can one acquire those "ears" = without hearing pianos and experiencing the difference with a guide at your = side. At least, not I.</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=203062905-06032005><FONT face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=203062905-06032005><FONT face=Arial>Hope you = didn't think my comment was a negative reaction to your post--I actually liked = the sound of your words. But how does that all sound in a piano? Ahhh .... = maybe like that bass octave in California. </FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=203062905-06032005><FONT face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=203062905-06032005><FONT face=Arial>Hey, I = liked the racing stripes, too. (Now everyone will be asking you what the heck THAT means!)</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV align=left><FONT face=Arial>Alan R. Barnard</FONT></DIV> <DIV align=left><FONT face=Arial>Salem, MO</FONT></DIV> <DIV align=left><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV> <DIV align=left><SPAN class=203062905-06032005><FONT = face=Arial>P.S.  Part of my pursuit of this at this time is a desire to rescue = an area Methodist church from the shrill, busy, ultra-bright, piercing, = stident, trident (gummed up) sound of the little Samick SG-172 grand = they bought. I'm pretty sure it's going to start with some serious string = seating, bridge pin stabilization, and regulation--followed by a = session in the back room with those hammers ... under a bright light ... = with a rubber hose and brass knuckles, to soften them up. I don't THINK I = could make it worse, even with what I know, now.  And, no, there are = no other guild techs within two hours of here and no local yokels I'd = want to invite to help. I am alllllll aloooooooone here in the elephant = ivory graveyard.</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV align=left><SPAN class=203062905-06032005><FONT = face=Arial size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV></DIV> <DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader lang=en-us dir=ltr = align=left><FONT face=Tahoma size=2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B> pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] <B>On = Behalf Of </B>David Andersen<BR><B>Sent:</B> Saturday, March 05, 2005 = 11:22 PM<BR><B>To:</B> Pianotech<BR><B>Subject:</B> Re: Modern Tone II, = the Return of the Question<BR><BR></FONT></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE><FONT face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12px">4. = For those with limited experience and little opportunitity to mentor with = someone, terms like <I>"large, dark, powerful, clear, and throaty, with = roar and snap at double or triple forte, but NEVER clangy or = distorted"</I> just leave one guessing as to what they mean. I assume that "dark" = means power in the lower partials not overshadowed by the higher ones = (?) but I'd be guessing about that "roar and snap" thing. This isn't to criticize David's description, merely to point out the = difficulties and frustrations of communicating sensory perceptions through = verbage. I've watch Roger Jolly and Ari Issac do some voicing and marveled at = what they can do and how well they do it. But even trying, in person, = to demonstrate and teach voicing to a room full of people seems = very challenging: <I>"See, the sound is now a broad 'Ohhhhh' instead = of an "Ehhhhh and it sits higher against on the shelf."  (Made = part of that up .... sorry)<BR></I></SPAN></FONT><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12px"><FONT face=Verdana><BR></FONT><FONT = face=Arial>I think it's like people describing wines without giving you a = sip: <I>Yes, and this vintage is drier than a moselle, slightly = nutty, with just a hint of the vine not revealed in the bouqet unless = consumed at midnight in a graveyard while holding a dead = cat.<BR></I></FONT><FONT face=Verdana><BR></FONT><FONT face=Arial>Alan R. = Barnard<BR>Always Studyin' but Not Always Gettin' It in Salem, MO<BR></FONT></SPAN></BLOCKQUOTE><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: = 12px"><FONT face=Verdana><BR>My friend---I�m just trying to give words to = an aural phenomenon, and it�s tough, but that�s what �developing a = tonal memory� means: developing an internal sense of how a piano is = �supposed� to sound at all volume and attack levels. If you played the concert grands = that Dale Erwin and I brought to the Sacramento PTG Convention, I can = say that both of those pianos are in the ballpark of what most artists, technicians, and serious listeners would describe as achieving the = sonority of the 40�s and 50�s pianos---powerful and clear, = without distortion or a brittle quality. There I go again :--)<BR><BR>The = CDs I mentioned in an earlier post are a good indication of what I�m = trying to put in words. If we�d met in Sacramento, I would have given you = a CD that I had a few copies of there---an amazing young jazz player named = Tamir Hendelman, playing trio versions of Christmas songs on a 1923 long = A my shop rebuilt.  That piano is a touch brighter, but sounds = like a Bill Evans record, which nearly always had imeccably tuned and voiced pianos.<BR><BR>It�s a lifetime of listening and learning. =  I still feel like a rank novice a lot of the time.<BR>Voicing is a noble challenge. It demands that so many things about the piano be right.<BR>When you become passionate about the voice of the = instrument, your toleration of unregulated and unprepared pianos becomes = slimmer and slimmer, and your business changes. This coming week, 4 of the 5 = days are one long day, or 2 long days, with a good grand piano. It wasn�t = like that 6 or 7 years ago; it was much more tuning 3 or 4 pianos a day. As = my ears have grown, my practice has grown and improved.</FONT></SPAN> <BR> <P><FONT size=2>--<BR>No virus found in this incoming = message.<BR>Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.<BR>Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.5.7 - = Release Date: 03/01/2005<BR></FONT></P></BLOCKQUOTE><BR> <P><FONT size=2>--<BR>No virus found in this outgoing = message.<BR>Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.<BR>Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.5.7 - = Release Date: 03/01/2005<BR></FONT></P></BLOCKQUOTE><BR> <P><FONT size=2>--<BR>No virus found in this incoming = message.<BR>Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.<BR>Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.6.2 - = Release Date: 03/04/2005<BR></FONT></P></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML> <BR> <P><FONT SIZE=2>--<BR> No virus found in this outgoing message.<BR> Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.<BR> Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.6.2 - Release Date: = 03/04/2005<BR> </FONT> </P>