Steinway "pinning" dilemma

[fssturm@unm.edu]

Hi Jeff,
   I'm not disagreeing with Roger as to sonic effect, just as to the mechanism that 
causes the effect. I think it's the firmness of the pinning, in part reducing wobble 
during hammer throw, but particularly affecting what the hammer does during 
the all important period of string contact. Not friction in the centerpinning 
causing closer contact between knuckle and jack, as Roger was saying. 
   In this theoretical inquiry, I am uncertain whether friction per se (assuming 
equal firmness of pinning) has an effect on tone quality. I can imagine friction in 
the action center having a minute effect on the time the hammer lingers on the 
string. Would this be significant enough to be noticeable? I don't know. (I 
certainly do agree that "pinning tighter" has a noticeable and often dramatic 
affect on tone. I'm just questioning whether it's the firmness or the friction. With a 
normal felt bushing, there is only a fairly small range of possible friction for a 
given firmness of pinning).
   And here lies the original question about Steinway hammerflange centers.
1) In current manufacture, is there extra firmness with reduced friction?
2) If so, does this added firmness have the desired sonic effect?
3) Does lesser friction have a deleterious effect on touch for a significant 
number of pianists? On this latter subject, I would posit that we would assume 
even pinning, and well-controlled friction. Everything at 2 gms, say, rather than, 
say 4, 5, or 6. Is there a loss of fine control? I have tended to think there is. But 
maybe if there is adequate firmness, this isn't significant. Maybe a small 
difference in hammerflange friction isn't all that significant as part of the overall 
friction in the action. I just don't know.
Regards,
Fred Sturm
University of New Mexico
Quoting Jeff Tanner <jtanner@mozart.music.sc.edu>:

> Fred,
> I'll have to back Roger up on this one.  I don't have a physics
> degree, 
> so I can't explain why, but when I repinned our D last fall for our 
> faculty member's recital, her very first comment was in regards to
> how 
> I had improved the tone.  Yes, I tapped the bridge pins and settled
> the 
> strings to the capo, but I heard the difference in tone before I did
> 
> those things.  Perhaps it was a psychological sensation due to the 
> increased control of the mechanism.  But that was her first
> statement.
> 
> Jeff
> 
> On Thursday, October 9, 2003, at 05:49 PM, 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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