[CAUT] Natural key width

[Jeannie Grassi]

Yes, they do. 

-----Original Message-----
From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of David
Ilvedson
Sent: Wednesday, January 30, 2008 12:29 PM
To: caut at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [CAUT] Natural key width

I'd like to see a picture of this.   It seems like you have to compress the
keys closer together...lots of space at the existing cheekblocks...but the
stack remains the same, relatively.   Don't the keys have some extreme
angles?

David Ilvedson, RPT
Pacifica, CA  94044

----- Original message ----------------------------------------
From: "Porritt, David" <dporritt at mail.smu.edu>
To: "College and University Technicians" <caut at ptg.org>
Received: 1/29/2008 9:49:32 AM
Subject: Re: [CAUT] Natural key width


>Fred:

>When David Steinbuhler first said that he was going to make an action to
>fit any D I suppressed a 
>smile as I didn't think it could be done.  A few weeks later the action
>arrived and indeed it can be adapted to fit any D.  There are
>adjustments for damper timing, keyframe bedding, una corda placement,
>everything.  It helps that the action was totally of his manufacture.
>The hammer flange rail is flat so hammer spacing is easy to do, the pins
>that go under the cheek blocks are fully adjustable in all directions.
>Key bedding is quite ingenious.  I'm very glad now that I didn't say "it
>can't be done" because he has clearly done it.  The only Steinway
>factory part is the sostenuto rod and that only because it was easier to
>buy it than to make one.  The rest of the action, brass brackets, wooden
>rails, key frame etc. are Steinbuhler.  

>One assumes that any venue that has a D and puts on concerts will have
>some arrangement with a technician of some skill.  Generally I'd say
>that any technician who can keep artists happy with a standard D can
>make the adjustments necessary on this action.  The venues where this
>one has been, have been mostly colleges and the resident technicians had
>no obvious problems making it work well.  We have a box that David made
>for shipping the action that has protected it in transit.

>I'm sure there will be further development in the action but the current
>product is a very capable one.  

>dave

>David M. Porritt, RPT
>dporritt at smu.edu

>-----Original Message-----
>From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of
>Fred Sturm
>Sent: Tuesday, January 29, 2008 10:55 AM
>To: College and University Technicians
>Subject: Re: [CAUT] Natural key width

>Hi David,
>	I'd be a bit worried taking a keyframe/action assembly with me.

>First, getting it packed well and having it arrive safe and sound at  
>the venue at the other end; and then packed well for the return. But  
>second, you would need to be certain there was a tech at the other end  
>capable of doing the work needed. And it _could_ be a lot, depending  
>on a lot of factors. For instance, width of keyblocks (might not  
>accommodate optimum positioning - S&S keyblocks are custom cut to each  
>piano in the factory, so width is not standard); alignment of hammers  
>to strings (capo sections can vary a lot, and agraffes often do as  
>well); string height; string level (or out of level); unison spacing  
>in the capo sections (individual strings within the trichord -  
>especially problematic for una corda voicing). It might work out fine,  
>but it might turn out to be a nightmare, where a less than fully  
>competent tech faced a problematic fit. Certainly getting it in  
>concert ready condition would need a top notch, efficient tech, at  
>least in many cases. And how can a pianist know whether X tech in a  
>far away venue is competent in that way? Pretty much a roll of the  
>dice in many cases, especially off the beaten path. I guess if it  
>became common enough, a grapevine of techs and pianists would develop.
>	I suppose going back and forth from 7/8 or 15/16 to full
>wouldn't  
>really be any harder than going from violin to viola, probably an  
>almost instant adaptation for a decent pianist. It's where I go from a  
>keyboard where I can fairly consistently reach that 10th around the  
>edges of the corners of those naturals (without making one of them  
>sound a little) to one where it is definitely hit or miss that is more  
>disconcerting. So close and yet so far. Frustrating as all get out.
>Regards,
>Fred Sturm
>University of New Mexico
>fssturm at unm.edu