[CAUT] Tone "contrast"; Was - The "new" S&S Hammers.

[David Love]

I'm not sure which rebuilders you are talking about but I can guess.  I
think your statement mischaracterizes their goals.  I neither think they are
looking for a "super ppp" level (a natural pianissimo will do) nor are they
equating "some kind of brilliance with noise".  Avoidance of gross
distortions, caused by overdriving soundboards may be a goal, but it doesn't
preclude a solid fortissimo.  Emphasis on sustain may require some slight
sacrifice in loudness--at least from the board.  Yet, on many of these
boards a wide range of tone can be achieved much more easily since
soundboard and string scale matching delivers a somewhat more predictable
result and allows for brilliance, fortissimo (and pianissimo) with a hammer
that is neither filled with lacquer nor quarried from granite. Neither are
they out declaring their ideas as superior.  It is simply a choice that they
are making and they are being generous enough to share their ideas.  I don't
know about "clear market preferences".  My experience with my customers
(many of whom are very fine concert musicians) is that most pianos are too
loud, too percussive, too strident, without expressive characteristics on
the lower end.  Concert preparation is a very different thing than what most
people would choose to play on everyday.  Also, carrying a 3000 seat hall
forces you to make choices that you would not under normal playing
conditions.  

Choices about voicing a piano for presentation at conventions are more
complicated and often must anticipate dead presentation rooms, ambient noise
levels and other problems.  Within any design pianos can be voiced to very
low or very high levels.  Those choices may not reflect the potential in any
given instrument.    

David Love
davidlovepianos at comcast.net 
www.davidlovepianos.com

-----Original Message-----
From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of
Richard Brekne
Sent: Tuesday, September 18, 2007 1:43 AM
To: caut at ptg.org
Subject: [CAUT] Tone "contrast"; Was - The "new" S&S Hammers.


There seems to be a growing desire amoungst several rebuilders in the 
states to opt for a very moody and softish sound base. The idea that a 
super ppp level should be needed goes to the expense of any real 
brilliance, seemingly because these same equate that kind of brilliance 
with noise.  It matters not that the vast majority of pianists seem to 
on the other hand opt for that kind of brilliant sound base.  On the one 
hand, I applaud the willingness to explore different colour pallets, yet 
on the other hand I am skeptical to the apparent insistance of some to 
declare their own ideas as superior others, writing off clear market 
preferences as meaningless in a variety of ways.


Cheers
RicB