[CAUT] Which S&S replacement action parts?

[Fred Sturm]

On Jun 25, 2008, at 4:17 PM, Barbara Richmond wrote:

> Hi Doug,
>
> I may be mistaken, but I don't think it's the price of the parts,  
> it's the pinning/flange cloth controversy.  Uh oh, I mentioned  
> it...  :-o
>
> Barbara Richmond, RPT
> near Peoria, Illinois


Hi Barbara,
	This is ground we've been over several times, but maybe it bears  
revisiting a bit. It seems to me to be the question of friction versus  
firmness. I spent a good number of years in pursuit of friction, a  
fairly high standard applied evenly throughout (shanks in particular),  
thinking that gave me a feel and a sound that was improved. I'm not  
sure exactly how much I was influenced by my mindset, thinking I would  
have the better action feel and more focused sound, and so because of  
my expectation I found it.
	In recent years, arguments by Don Mannino in particular, and various  
others as well, have led me to the belief that firmness is what  
matters, and that friction can be very low and the action made to work  
well and feel responsive. Partly that is just adapting to the reality  
of modern Steinway parts - my first reaction was to try to get the  
friction up. Didn't work. Didn't last. That teflon impregnation does  
its job.
	In the end, I have come to the conclusion that firmness of pinning is  
what matters for tone, and that I can regulate adequately to whatever  
friction there is. That's where my head is at the moment. Partly it is  
just a matter of "going with the flow" (working with the parts I  
have), but I certainly haven't found (in my alter-ego as pianist) that  
I notice any particular difference in feel between, say, Renner parts  
pinned firmly (4 - 6 gm)  and Steinway parts pinned like Steinway  
parts (firm, but in the 0-2 gm range). I feel pretty certain that lack  
of wobble in the bushing is the key to the sound component, and felt  
impregnated with a solidifying teflon product does that quite well.  
BTW, it is quite possible to pin with high friction and low firmness  
(same goes for key bushings).
	I'm sure there are others with opposite opinions of various natures.  
Which is just fine with me.

Regards,
Fred Sturm
University of New Mexico
fssturm at unm.edu