<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD><TITLE></TITLE> <META http-equiv=Content-Type = content=text/html;charset=ISO-8859-1> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.2627" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY text=#000000 bgColor=#ccccff> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hello Jurgen</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>There, I think, you have it! In a = nutshell! My thoughts entirely. Hence the <EM>need</EM> for this new approach to = action geometry as defined by the felt used!</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I drove down the Malahat highway to = Victoria in the 60s. What a beautiful place Vancr Island is! </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Regards from a beautiful sunny morning = in the Sussex Downs</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=pianoforte@pianofortesupply.com href="mailto:pianoforte@pianofortesupply.com">Piano Forte Supply</A> = </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A = title=pianotech@ptg.org href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Monday, May 09, 2005 3:30 = AM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> RE: something about aftertouch.......</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV>Maybe I overlooked it, but what I haven't seen in = recent posts on this topic is how the compressibility of the front rail punching = affects the aftertouch at different dynamic levels.  With a more highly compressible, less firm punching, the aftertouch changes a lot more drastically through the spectrum of dynamics, from ppp through = fff.  If the piano is regulated at a "medium" blow [please don't jump on me for = this term, I think it is clear to all who want to understand], the = reduction in aftertouch on a very light blow is far more apt to create a problem = with a bobbling hammer (than with a firmer punching).  Conversely, on = the same note played fff, aftertouch will surely far exceed 1 mm [dip and = jack/knuckle clearance] and the chances are good that the jack will bury itself in = the jack stop felt.<BR><BR>Meanwhile, the pianist is getting completely = different tactile feedback from the key at every different dynamic level. = (fluctuation in key dip, aftertouch, checking height etc., perhaps even repetition)<BR><BR>So the question is: HOW firm do we want the front = rail punching to be?  Obviously more firm than a sponge and softer = than a stack of cardboard punchings.  But beyond that?  Perhaps as = firm as possible without compomising the other duties of this punching, such = as to keep key thunk to a minimum.  <BR><BR>I have done some simple = testing, measuring the thickness of a common (woven) front rail punching and a Crescendo punching with no load compared to being compressed by = weight.  In my test, the Crescendo punching compressed  less than half as = much as the other one.<BR><BR>I can imagine there will be players for whom the = feel of the Crescendo punchings may not be "soft" enough, just as there are = those who enjoy their "loose action" with wobbling hammers.   For most = others, this new punching with its crisp, precise feel will enhance their playing = pleasure, if not their performance.<BR><BR>Using these punchings will yield a = more stable regulation, with an unprecedented definition of aftertouch as = well as greater consistency of touch throughout all dynamic playing levels. <BR><BR> And that can't be all bad...<BR><BR>Jurgen = Goering<BR>Piano Forte Supply<BR></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>