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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: =
black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=davidlovepianos@earthlink.net
href="mailto:davidlovepianos@earthlink.net">David Love</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> September 19, 2002 5:43 =
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Hammers and =
scale</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>I'd be interested in hearing more on the =
relationship
between hammers and scale design. It seems that the trend in =
rescaling
is often to add tension to the upper regions of the piano, especially
Steinways. Is the older lower tension scale related to the =
original size
and weight of the hammer? Does a higher tension scale call for a =
larger
or harder hammer necessarily?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>David Love</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV></BLOCKQUOTE>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT color=#000080>In general a lower tension scale =
can, and
should, use a somewhat more resilient and less massive hammer than one =
having a
higher tension scale. Of course, there should also be some changes in =
the
soundboard. The lower tension scaling will want a lighter, more flexible =
soundboard as well. It's one of the nice things about the smaller =
Steinway
scales. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT color=#000080></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT color=#000080>The theory is that a higher-tension =
string is
potentially capable of storing more energy. There are, however, a =
number of
trade-offs. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT color=#000080></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT color=#000080>The heavier hammer creates more =
flex and
compression in the action components so the action reaches saturation =
sooner and
its potential velocity is lower. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT color=#000080></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT color=#000080>Higher tension scales call for a =
moderately
stiffer and more massive soundboard and a slightly harder and more =
massive
hammer. Emphasis on the two words, <EM>moderately</EM> and
<EM>slightly</EM>! It's still a matter of balancing a =
well-designed scale
with a well-designed soundboard and then selecting a hammer of =
reasonable mass
and high resilience to work with them.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT color=#000080></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT color=#000080>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT color=#000080>There is also a difference between =
a long, thin
string and a short, thick string even though <EM>tension</EM> may be the =
same.
The short, thick string is inherently stiffer and will store more higher =
harmonic energy, less lower harmonic and fundamental energy. And, of =
course,
don't forget the influence of the backscale.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr>Del</DIV></FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT color=#000080></FONT> </DIV></BODY></HTML>