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

[Ron Nossaman]

>     Like Jim, I found the rebuilt pianos at Rochester somewhat below my
> expectations. Meaning I wasn't wowed by them. They were all nice, but none
> really grabbed me. About yours in particular, I wished the voicing had more
> bite, was "faster" as the Germans like to say. Which is not a comment on the
> rebuild or remanufacture or redesign side of things, but just a comment on
> the finish prep and possibly choice of hammers. And perhaps it has a lot to
> do with my personal taste as well. I would probably say nearly the same
> about one or two of the others in the rebuilders showcase, and would say
> that one or two were quite a bit too "monochrome" for my taste. Yours I
> thought had more potential and range, but I was disappointed by the finish
> sound. It seemed like there was sound available that I couldn't get at,
> probably due to the hammers. It was too hard to get contrast, to bring out
> inner voices.

Very good. This is more like what I was after. About my B - 
yes, I agree. I had it voiced too far below where I wanted it 
in an attempt to mask what I thought was an obnoxiously noisy 
set of bass strings (the third, actually). I was out of time 
and options with the piano being picked up about a week after 
the strings arrived, so I was stuck with it. I was 
disappointed with what I had to bring, but decided it was a 
real life situation and brought it anyway. It sounds some 
different now, with the fourth set.


>     To give the perspective of my own personal taste to that opinion, my
> favorite piano in that showcase was Ron Overs', hands down. 

A very fine piano, absolutely. I'd love to have heard it after 
delivery, and the day spent voicing it down for the space it 
went into.


>     These opinions are all expressed in the interest of promoting a free
> exchange of ideas, with no agenda whatsoever. 

Yes, exactly what I need.


>     I _will_ say that I think it is a shame we focus so much attention, both
> as an industry and as technicians, on the concert grand in the large hall
> playing with an orchestra. That is, IMO, the most artificial and unnatural
> place for a piano. 

Again, I agree. Intimate and personal is where I'd choose to 
go. My clientele typically uses the instrument much more for 
personal therapy than for knocking the bark off of the 
Philharmonic. To me, personal therapy is worth far more than 
the state of the Philharmonic's bark.

Thanks Fred.
Ron N