<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" = xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" = xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" = xmlns:st1="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" = xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"> <head> <meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; = charset=iso-8859-1"> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 11 (filtered medium)">  <title>Message</title> <o:SmartTagType = namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="State"/> <o:SmartTagType = namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"/> <o:SmartTagType = namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="country-region"/> <o:SmartTagType = namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"/>  <style>  </style> </head> <body lang=EN-GB link=blue vlink="#606420" id="role_body" = bottomMargin=7 leftmargin=7 topmargin=7 rightMargin=7> <div class=Section1> Yes, Marcel, you’re right. I = found myself wondering as I wrote that. Whatever, I have found the = Brinsmead pulls up a semi-tone with no breakage trouble !! Thanks for pointing out my = error! J<o:p></o:p></span= > Michael G.(<st1:country-region = w:st="on"><st1:place = w:st="on">UK</st1:place></st1:country-region>)<o:p></o:p>= <div> <div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'> <hr size=2 width="100%" align=center tabindex=-1> </div> From:</spa= n> Marcel Carey [mailto:mcpiano@videotron.ca] Sent: 06 October 2005 = 12:29 To: 'Pianotech' Subject: RE : Odd = dimensions of sharps.<o:p></o:p> </div> <o:p> </o:p> <div> Michael,<o:p></o:p></p= > </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> If G#=440, I would think the = piano would be 1/2 a step SHARP, not flat. Now if A#=440, then it would be = flat.<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> Marcel = Carey,<o:p></o:p> </div> <div> <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Sherbrooke</st1:City>, <st1:State w:st="on">QC</st1:State></st1:place><o:p></o:p> </div> <blockquote style='border:none;border-left:solid blue = 1.5pt;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 4.0pt; margin-left:3.75pt;margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:5.0pt'= > -----Message = d'origine----- De : pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] De la part de Michael Gamble Envoyé : 6 octobre = 2005 08:19 À : = Byeway222@aol.com; pianotech@ptg.org Objet : RE: Odd = dimensions of sharps.<o:p></o:p> Yes, Richard, I agree with the = sharp business. There are many pianos I simply cannot get my fingers in = between them! Height also plays a major role in this. As for those older pianos, the Brinsmeads in particular I find extremely good tonally. Even very old = uprights with the una-corda (L) pedal. The strings are remarkable too – = notice the coppery finish on the lower steel strings – not the covered ones = – I have found they respond very well indeed to pitch raising – even = from G#=440 !<o:p></o:p> Regards<o:p></o:p>= Michael G.(<st1:country-region = w:st="on"><st1:place = w:st="on">UK</st1:place></st1:country-region>)<o:p></o:p>= <o:p> </o:p> <div> <div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'> <hr size=2 width="100%" align=center tabIndex=-1> </div> From:</spa= n> Byeway222@aol.com [mailto:Byeway222@aol.com] Sent: 06 October 2005 = 00:00 To: pianotech@ptg.org Subject: Re: Odd = dimensions of sharps.<o:p></o:p> </div> <o:p> </o:p> <div> Hi Michael = and List,<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p>= </div> <div> I had forgotten about those round = fronted sharps on Collards  (I think Brinsmead did them as well).  = It's amazing that they went to all the trouble of cutting the ivory to = accommodate them, in fact, tonally most of those pianos were not worth all the = trouble and decent materials which often went into them.  They all sounded = as though they had been strung with loose knicker = elastic.<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p>= </div> <div> However, the subject of sharps and = their size and shape has always interested me as a pianist as well as a technician.  I have always been conscious of sharps being = comfortable or uncomfortable and I think that pianists often do not realise = that one of the many reasons they don't like the 'feel' of a piano is, in = fact the sharps.  I have a very good and immediate comparison in a = college here, where I have a Steinway B and a Yamaha S6 in the same room.  = All the upper end of the market Yamahas have rather 'chunky' sharps with = quite an exaggerated front bevel. I believe that they are made from some = sort of composite material which resembles wood. The Steinway still has = much neater and thinner sharps which I have now found, from questioning pianists, they prefer.  Oddly, the smaller and cheaper Yamahas have plastic sharps with much neater ( and in my opinion) more comfortable dimensions.  Over the years, my recollections = of  different keyboards often takes me back to a really super Knabe = grand.  There are very few in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region = w:st="on">UK</st1:country-region></st1:place>, but this was a stunning piano musically, but it had the most incredibly = 'short' sharps I have ever come accross. You felt as though you were going to = collide with the nameboard at any minute.<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p>= </div> <div> It would be interesting to hear = other opinions on this whole business of keyboards and their 'feel' as a = result of materials and their size and shaping.  Just as the recently discussed Wurzen front punchings appear to be part of a general = building up of agreeable feel and tone, so, I feel this business of keyboard materials, design and finish are also a very important = part of the picture.<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p>= </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p>= </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p>= </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p>= </div> </blockquote> </div> </body> </html>