Steinway "pinning" dilemma

[Tim Coates]

Does anyone remember the classes Chris Robinson did using a Realtime 
Spectrum Analyzer (borrowed from Kurztweil Company)?  I know it was in 
Philadelphia about 12 years ago.  Using a mechanism to create an even 
blow and recorded with the analyzer he showed how repinning to proper 
specs (at that time 6 grams) changed dramatically the tone of a 
particular note.  

Pretty eye opening.  Previously people speculated about the tonal 
affects of proper flange friction.  He showed it scientifically to be true.

Tim Coates
University of South Dakota
University of Sioux Falls

Fred Sturm wrote:

>> --On Wednesday, October 8, 2003 7:55 PM -0600 Roger Jolly
>> <roger.j@sasktel.net> wrote:
>>
>>>
>>>> Hi Fred,
>>>
>>>
>>>                   4gms of friction seems to be the optimum for tone
>>> production, _as it keeps the knuckle firmly in contact with the 
>>
> balancier_.
> snip
>
>>> Regards Roger.
>>
>
> Roger,
>     Looking at this more carefully, I have to disagree with you as to 
> the mechanism for the tonal effect of firm pinning. From the point of 
> view of the hammer being thrown to the string, I think mass, inertia, 
> and leverage are plenty to maintain firm contact between knuckle and 
> jack. Where lack of firmness has its effect is in the wobble that is 
> introduced during the throw of the hammer, and even more so the wobble 
> upon impact with the string (ie, what the hammer does during the time 
> it remains in contact). So from a purely tonal point of view, I don't 
> think friction per se plays a role.
>     Where it does have an effect is in the neuro-muscular response of 
> the pianist. I am convinced that a fine pianist can feel the 
> difference between 2 and 4 grams friction in a hammershank center, in 
> terms of what needs to be done to create the final velocity of the 
> hammer, and that 4 grams will be found preferable in allowing more 
> nuanced control. But even more important is evenness from note to 
> note. Better all 2 gram than higglety pigglety with an average of 4 grams.
>     All of this is more in the realm of mental picturing than  
> measurable physics, because it is next to impossible to separate one 
> factor from the others with any reliability. You have to assume 
> travel, square hanging of hammers, evenness of felt density and 
> elasticity, evenness of shank firmness/sponginess, etc., etc. But when 
> all you do to a fly away action is repin it, the result is usually 
> quite dramatic, at least in my experience.
>
>
> Regards,
> Fred Sturm
> University of New Mexico
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