[CAUT] was caf now seasonal sb failure

[Bob Hull]

The catastrophic action failure thread may have merged
into a discussion of seasonal loss of crown/db and
therefore I guess sustain/tonal quality.  

Here are observations about two terrible sounding NY
D's I am servicing; Plus, a question about finding the
culprit.

#1. I went to a recital this evening at one of the
univ. for which I do piano service.  The NY D (mid
1970's era) was more dreadful than usual, particularly
in tonal fullness.  There was the initial splatter of
sound, quite thin and short, in octaves 5 and 6.  It
sounds this way I guess at other times of the year but
I really noticed it tonight sitting out in the
audience.  When I tune, I zero in so much on the
tuning that I turn off my voicing perception. There's
no money in their budget for improvements at this
time, unfortunately.  

As I sat there, I wanted to investigate, does this
piano need, voicing or new hammers or a new board? 
Hammers have been replaced (by a previous tech) and
aren't that worn.  The SB has a crack in it that is
definitely more visible during this time of the year. 
Yesterday when I tuned somewhere here in the area it
was 28% rh at 71 deg.  Could be a little different I
suppose from location to location.

#2. The second D, which is bothering me greatly is in
a church.  It's also a 1970's model.  I put all new
hammers and wippens in it replacing teflon parts and
problems about 2 years ago.  I hoped for great
improvement in tone.  While I got some, the piano
still lacks power terribly.  I am in the process of
adding keytop/acetone which is giving some help but
still not what I want.  When I pluck a string it's not
much or any different than the hammer strike.  A
rocker gauge on the bridge of this piano indicates
there is downbearing. This one has a Dampp Chaser, the
univ. one doesn't. 

Do you always check crown/downbearing a particular
way: under the board with a thread; rocker gauge on
bridge; thread from agraffe to hitch pin; Lowell gauge
or other? I used different methods, but wonder which
gives the best reading. 

Bob Hull 

--- Ron Nossaman <rnossaman@cox.net> wrote:

> > Regarding Steinway, the loose pinning (currently
> 20% RH at 
> > this particular venue), coupled with raising the
> hammer 
> > line several mm (key-dip; a very skinny .400")
> brought 
> > about the dread CAF on several notes. (see Eric's
> test)
> 
> Something I've been meaning to ask. New York
> Steinways, I 
> assume? 20%RH at 70° puts soundboards at 4.5%MC.
> That's at or 
> below (depending on who you talk to) what they were
> originally 
> dried down to for compression crowning with flat
> ribs. There 
> shouldn't be a lick of crown anywhere in these
> pianos in these 
> conditions, and they ought to be mostly killer
> octave and 
> sound thoroughly terrible right now. Do they?
> 
> Ron N
> _______________________________________________
> caut list info:
> https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives
> 



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