<!doctype html public "-//W3C//DTD W3 HTML//EN"> <html><head><style type="text/css"></style><title>Re: Front Duplex</title></head><body> <div>Joseph Alkana wrote:</div> <div><br></div> <blockquote type="cite" cite>. . . I had occasion to speak with Ed McMurrow on this duplex subject yesterday. Although he outlines the process and explanations fairly well in his book, The Educated Piano, it was interesting to learn about some of his experiences with the front duplex. Even with his expertise, I've seen him use the glue method to change a harmonic more to his liking when all else fails. He tells me that Steinway hardening of the capo bar can vary a great deal, making some efforts to shape a satisfactory profile difficult.</blockquote> <div><br></div> <div>Indeed, Steinway's bar hardening varies considerably, as can be witnessed by the grooves in the capo and duplex bars. Furthermore, the shape is mostly anything but ideal.</div> <div><br></div> <blockquote type="cite" cite>I would expect that he and Ron Overs would heartily disagree about the use of hardening on the capo, as Ed prefers the concept of a livelier pivot termination which he feels can only be produced by a very sharp "u" applied to surfaced that has not been hardened.</blockquote> <div><br></div> <div>I suspect you're probably right Joseph. However, I would really like to discuss our differences in approach with him. I have heard nothing but positive comments about Ed's work, and I suspect that we are both chasing the same thing since we also claim to be looking for a livelier pivot termination. Is Ed online anyone?</div> <div><br></div> <div>Yamaha harden their capo bars, but hardening the capo bar alone is not sufficient<font color="#0000FF"> (especially if the radius is not small enough)</font>. The duplex bars also must be hardened. The Yamaha pianos remains noisy because the duplex is too soft<font color="#0000FF"> (I am not sure if they still try to tune the front duplex to a harmonic of the speaking length, since I haven't rebuilt any Yamahas later than a 1992)</font>.</div> <div><br></div> <div>Very soon some of the first commercial CD recordings featuring our piano no. 003 will be available. This will include two CDs by leading Australian jazz pianist<font color="#0000FF"> (and New Zealand export)</font> Mike Nock<font color="#0000FF"> (one features the Mike Nock trio while the other is with saxophonist Dale Barlow's quartet)</font> and another by Australian pianist Scott Davie<font color="#0000FF"> (a former student of Leslie Howard)</font> performing works by Rachmaninov<font color="#0000FF"> (including the<i> Variations on a theme of Corelli</i>)</font>. I have previewed the Rachmaninov CD with some satisfaction. For those who are interested in hearing something to the either confirm or dispel the myth, I may be able eventually to supply these CDs by mail order. I'll inform the list if and when this service becomes available.</div> <div><br></div> <div>Ron Overs</div> <div><font face="Times" color="#000000">-- <br> </font></div> <div><font face="Times" color="#000000">       OVERS PIANOS</font></div> <div><font face="Times" color="#000000">Grand piano manufacturers</font><font color="#000000"></font></div> <div><font color="#000000">________________________<br> </font></div> <div><font face="Times" color="#000000">Web:   http://www.overspianos.com.au</font></div> <div><font face="Times" color="#000000">Email: mailto:ron@overspianos.com.au</font><font color="#000000"><br> ________________________</font></div> </body> </html>