That's the way I remember it...hard surface to reflect the energy back up into the piano... David Ilvedson, RPT Pacifica, California ----- Original message ---------------------------------------- From: "Alan McCoy" <amccoy at mail.ewu.edu> To: "College and University Technicians" <caut at ptg.org> Received: 5/9/2006 12:56:55 PM Subject: Re: [CAUT] Dollies and projection (was Hamburg leg bolt) >Ken, >In the dim past I remember that demo too now that you mention it. But I took >it to mean that by getting the piano off the soft mushy carpet and onto a >harder surface like a caster cup, the sound is reflected back instead of >being absorbed by the carpet. >I think it is time to experiment some. >Alan >> From: Ken Zahringer <ZahringerK at missouri.edu> >> Reply-To: "College and University Technicians <caut at ptg.org>" <caut at ptg.org> >> Date: Tue, 09 May 2006 12:13:24 -0500 >> To: "College and University Technicians <caut at ptg.org>" <caut at ptg.org> >> Conversation: [CAUT] Dollies and projection (was Hamburg leg bolt) >> Subject: Re: [CAUT] Dollies and projection (was Hamburg leg bolt) >> >> It is my understanding that a piano projects better when there is NOT solid >> contact with the floor, in a manner of speaking. >> >> One of the more dramatic demonstrations I have seen was at convention some >> years back, at Wally Brooks' all-day class. Near the end of the day, after >> showing his voicing techniques, he had the piano sounding nice. Then he put >> it on caster cups, and it sounded great. His explanation: we all know that >> the entire piano resonates, not just the soundboard. The carpet in the >> hotel classroom "damped" the leg, preventing it from vibrating freely. The >> caster cup, being a hard surface, let the caster roll a bit, and thus let >> the leg, and I suppose the case as well a little bit, vibrate more freely. >> That is the real reason for casters - not for moving the piano, but to >> "uncouple" it from the floor and let the whole thing resonate. The reason, >> then, that a spider compromises the sound isn't that the leg is off the >> floor, but that the leg is stuck in the spider leg plate and can't move. >> >> I don't know of any research directed at this issue, but it makes sense to >> me. >> >> For what it's worth, >> Ken Z. >> >> >> On 5/9/06 11:44 AM, "Alan McCoy" <amccoy at mail.ewu.edu> wrote: >> >>> Is there a consensus out there that concert instruments project better with >>> a solid contact to the floor as contrasted with a piano on a dolly (rubber >>> wheels)? If so, what technique do you use to deal with it? I have several >>> venues with pianos on dollies. If I can get better tone out of my pianos >>> simply by making a more solid contact, I'll go home and make some wedges or >>> whatever tonight! Pronto, rapidisimo, asap....... Pictures are always nice, >>> if you have the time. >>> >>> Thanks. >>> >>> Alan >>> >>> >>>> From: Jon Page <jonpage at comcast.net> >>>> Reply-To: "College and University Technicians <caut at ptg.org>" <caut at ptg.org> >>>> Date: Tue, 09 May 2006 07:09:57 -0400 >>>> To: <caut at ptg.org> >>>> Subject: [CAUT] Hamburg leg bolt >>>> >>>> If students are to be moving this piano often, I'd worry more about >>>> personal injury than tone. >>>> >>>> Definitely get a piano truck!!! If you want a solid contact to the >>>> floor for performance then >>>> make up some hardwood wedges to block under the legs. >>>> >>>> As a side note, when it comes time to remove or install a piano on a truck, >>>> I have two small wedges (I call them 'Truck Stops') to place under the front >>>> legs so the back arm does not flip upwards. To remove a truck, place both >>>> Stops under the front legs and remove the rear leg from the truck. >>>> When installing, >>>> place a Stop under each front leg as it is positioned then simply >>>> swing the rear >>>> arm under the rear leg. >>>> -- >>>> >>>> Regards, >>>> >>>> Jon Page >>> >>> >> >> -- >> Ken Zahringer, RPT >> Piano Technician >> MU School of Music >> 297 Fine Arts >> 882-1202 >> cell 489-7529 >>
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