Russell Schmidt - Piano Technician UK School of Music
________________________________________
From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of caut-request at ptg.org [caut-request at ptg.org]
Sent: Wednesday, November 26, 2008 10:31 AM
To: caut at ptg.org
Subject: CAUT Digest, Vol 1, Issue 76
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Today's Topics:
1. Re: "You are The Greatest!" (Zeno Wood)
2. Re: Steinway... The "Safe" Piano. (Fred Sturm)
3. Re: new steinways (Gerald Cousins)
4. Re: new steinways (Fred Sturm)
5. Re: new steinways (Andrew Anderson)
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Message: 1
Date: Wed, 26 Nov 2008 09:44:10 -0500
From: "Zeno Wood" <zeno.wood at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [CAUT] "You are The Greatest!"
To: caut at ptg.org
Message-ID:
<cee63c600811260644m5b6db8e9t99a41cef9e67f8e9 at mail.gmail.com>
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I agree wholeheartedly! Every once in a while there's a thoughtful student
who takes a second to say hello and thank me for my work, and it reminds me
I'm glad to be a CAUT. Academic politics, budget slashings, and spilled
coffee aside, I enjoy the job.
Zeno Wood
Brooklyn College
On Tue, Nov 25, 2008 at 10:57 PM, Ron Poire <rpoire at comcast.net> wrote:
> It all comes with being available, whenever possible, to chat, or say
> "Hi," or spend a couple minutes listening to a rehearsal. And if they tell
> you about a problem, find out how the performance went.
> It's all about hand-holding when you can.
>
> Ron
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> *From:* reggaepass at aol.com
> *To:* caut at ptg.org
> *Sent:* Tuesday, November 25, 2008 4:38 PM
> *Subject:* [CAUT] "You are The Greatest!"
>
> List,
> The subject line may sound like what the renowned boxer Mohammed Ali would
> say to his image reflected back to him in a mirror before a bout. But, I am
> delighted to report, it is ALSO what a student just said to me as I passed
> her in the hallway (!!!). I figured that she had just spilled a drink in a
> piano or had some other bad news to relay and that she was simply softening
> me up before the other shoe dropped. But no, she claims that all of the
> other institutional piano technicians she has encountered (obviously, no one
> on this list!) were grumpy and of otherwise generally sour disposition.
> After thanking her for making my day (week, month, year...), I told her
> that maintaining a positive outlook was my way of rebelling against the
> stereotype.
>
> May you all be similarly blessed (sounds corny, but I really mean it).
>
> Cheers,
>
> Alan Eder
> CalArts
>
> ------------------------------
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>
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Message: 2
Date: Wed, 26 Nov 2008 07:46:45 -0700
From: Fred Sturm <fssturm at unm.edu>
Subject: Re: [CAUT] Steinway... The "Safe" Piano.
To: caut University Technicians <caut at ptg.org>
Message-ID: <45C591B5-69DB-4B9D-8387-64B305B4273E at unm.edu>
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On Nov 24, 2008, at 8:55 PM, Ed Sutton wrote:
> In any case, we have seen many times on this list that piano
> solutions don't necessarily converge. I am uncomfortable with any
> one-and-only-best-solution.
I agree. I certainly don't endorse an all-Anything for everybody. I
guess I don't see that happening in a practical sense - the entire
country being "taken over" by all-Steinway. In any case, I hate to see
us as cauts getting into battle array to try to stem the tide of those
horrible Steinways. It just doesn't make sense to me as an attitude
for us to take. By all means, let us do our best to promote the idea
of diversity, and try to make that a practical reality where feasible.
But I think that we cause ourselves and our profession harm by
engaging in this kind of negative campaigning.
Regards,
Fred Sturm
University of New Mexico
fssturm at unm.edu
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Message: 3
Date: Wed, 26 Nov 2008 10:04:15 -0500
From: Gerald Cousins <cousins_gerry at msn.com>
Subject: Re: [CAUT] new steinways
To: CAUT <caut at ptg.org>, John Chapman <johnchapman at asolare.org>
Message-ID: <BLU106-W50EB8FD7D36F18BC5613C69F0A0 at phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
John,
A very wise purchase and mix.
Do you have the prep "punch list" from Steinway Hamburg?
It is very helpful and a good starting point. As with all my procedures I use
punch lists to (hopefully) avoid forgetfulness. It is also useful when I find myself interrupted.
Which NEVER happens. Ha!
Happy T-Day to everyone on the list!
Gerry C
West Chester Universitygcousins at wcupa.edu
On 11/26/08 6:45 AM, "John D. Chapman" <johnchapman at asolare.org> wrote:
Our music department just received four new Steinways: one D, two Bs,and an A. Other than the obvious tuning and voicing, what immediateprep would you suggest?John ChapmanWake Forest UniversityWinston-Salem, North Carolina
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Message: 4
Date: Wed, 26 Nov 2008 08:15:20 -0700
From: Fred Sturm <fssturm at unm.edu>
Subject: Re: [CAUT] new steinways
To: caut at ptg.org
Message-ID: <F2A05F3D-502B-4483-8C04-E22D65623ADF at unm.edu>
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Hi John,
In addition to what Jon wrote, I would actually pull the stack to
check all keys: balance holes and bushings. It's a good thing to have
done. I like to lube and iron all bushings, ream and lube all balance
holes as a matter of course. (Precision reamer, 0.147", twisted back
and forth once about 90-120 degrees lightly in each hole - makes for a
clean and precise hole, consistent for every key). Your experience may
differ in NC from our dry conditions in NM, as to sizing of balance
holes - you are closer in RH to the Kluge factory. I find balance
holes on all brands tend to be too snug in new pianos. Lube the key
pins: hold the keyframe vertical and run a paintbrush with Prolube or
McLube along the part that the keybushings will contact (a couple
minutes that pays off handsomely).
Check parts alignment. In particular, before aligning hammers to
strings, see if the whole action/keyframe is slightly shifted to the
bass end (compression of that una corda stop felt) and shim out the
block a bit if needed. Check for twisted shanks and correct (bass
hammer in particular can tend to lean in one or other direction,
causing rubbing issues until corrected). It's a good idea to go
through regulation: at the least, the capstans likely need tweaking,
and you may find things like a few blocking hammers. Not necessarily a
full regulation, just check each note for proper function.
About the damper wires, they can tend to be set so they bear/bind too
tightly against one side of the bushing. They are intended to bear
"lightly but firmly." A very light tough on the bending pliers (bottom-
most bend) will get it to the point where "the firmness is there but
the friction is not." And if there is still a friction issue, with
action out press down the damper pedal and run a paintbrush of Prolube
along the wires just above the bushings (fast, gets them all at once).
I like to level the strings first off. It might or might not have
been done already (they have string levels in the factory). Check
trapwork for pins working loose. I had a problem with una corda lever
pin walking out on a couple in the past few years. Maybe they have
corrected the problem. Good luck!
Regards,
Fred Sturm
University of New Mexico
fssturm at unm.edu
On Nov 26, 2008, at 5:55 AM, Ralinovsky, Jonathan Mr. wrote:
> Hi John,
> Congratulations on your department?s purchase. I would suggest
> TFL-50 for the keybed (where the front/back rail and glides contact
> it) and ends of the keyframe where the keyframe contacts the return
> spring. Check the damper wires to ensure that they are moving freely
> through the damper guide rail. Lubricate the key bushings with
> Prolube or your favorite equivalent; ease key bushings and balance
> holes as needed.
>
> Respectfully,
> Jon
>
> Jon Ralinovsky
> Piano Technician
> Department of Music
> Miami University
> 513/529-6548
>
>
> On 11/26/08 6:45 AM, "John D. Chapman" <johnchapman at asolare.org>
> wrote:
>
> Our music department just received four new Steinways: one D, two Bs,
> and an A. Other than the obvious tuning and voicing, what immediate
> prep would you suggest?
> John Chapman
> Wake Forest University
> Winston-Salem, North Carolina
>
>
>
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Message: 5
Date: Wed, 26 Nov 2008 09:31:04 -0600
From: Andrew Anderson <andrew at andersonmusic.com>
Subject: Re: [CAUT] new steinways
To: caut at ptg.org
Message-ID: <29EEAF48-48DC-4054-BC1F-42E47235DDE9 at andersonmusic.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed; delsp=yes
John,
That would depend on the quality of service provided by your
dealership. Steinways come virtually unplayable from the manufacturer
and the dealership is expected to prep the piano to the customer's
requirements. Essentially the dealer's (or your) technician should go
through all the steps in the Steinway service manual with each piano,
especially for the performance instruments. This can amount to
several days per piano depending on the condition it arrived in.
Additional work:
Polish the capstans and keypins with Flitz if at all discolored or
any roughness/friction is detected.
lube capstans, keypins, damper wires through the glides with Prolube
(helps protect against oxidation)
lube key bushings, whippen heals, keyend felt (underlever contact),
jack regulation buttons, hammer knuckles with microfine teflon powder
(doesn't attract moisture or accumulate grime)
TFL (teflon) or teflon powder the contact of keyframe with the shift
return spring and with the keybed.
MPL lube the guides on each end of the keyframe going into the
cheakblocks
Prolube the pedal rod guides and teflon lube their contact points.
Establish positive (felt damped) stops for the pedals under the
keybed (big headed lag screws), especially the shift pedal
Go through the hammers and check grams tension on the hammer flanges
(lube with cpl or repin as necessary, this has a big effect on voice)
In the hall and storage areas be very strict about maintaining a piano
friendly environment. Steady relative humidity (40% low end, 55% high
end and preferably no more then a 5% swing) and temperature are
essential to stable tuning and regulation. What is more, this is
essential to the long-term life of the instrument. I have a B here
that was stored in a hallway where humidity swung from 35% to 88% RH.
There are glue joints failing throughout the action probably
throughout the piano construction as well. Until this happened no-one
wanted to seriously consider my warnings.
After play-in more regulation will be needed as the contact points
(felt and leather) adjust to usage. Pianos with a regular playing
schedule will need annual regulation but the time required to do it
will drop as the parts settle into their used state.
You should maintain a parts inventory onsite for your performance
instruments containing a stringset, a couple spare whippens and hammer
shanks and flanges. This especially if you have only one model of the
given piano. There's nothing like loosing a monochord on a D during a
pre-concert rehearsal and then finding out that there are no
replacements in-state that can get to you in time for the concert.
Same thing for broken action parts. Steinway wasn't selling spare
parts kits last time I called so you may choose one of the other fine
makes to have emergency spares on hand for just such an occasion. We
have couple each of Tokiwa parts to cover for broken inventory here.
I recommend Abel Encore but would have to check if they break up sets
to sell little kits like that.
Good luck with the piano investment. Hopefully none were stillborn
from the factory. If any are found to be problematic don't hesitate
to aggressively insist on a replacement. The longer you wait the
greater the resistance to dealing with a problem instrument. I know
of a D being replaced by the factory. I know of another that they
didn't get around to addressing the issue until the short warranty was
almost over and the dealer dragged her feet, sent her technician who
obfuscated, flattered, denigrated his colleagues doing whatever it
took to slow them down. The short warranty expired and now they
refuse to talk about the issue. No one wants to play the D there
after he worked on it. The B has become their instrument of choice,
clicking glue joints and all.
Andrew Anderson
On Nov 26, 2008, at 5:45 AM, John D. Chapman wrote:
> Our music department just received four new Steinways: one D, two
> Bs, and an A. Other than the obvious tuning and voicing, what
> immediate prep would you suggest?
> John Chapman
> Wake Forest University
> Winston-Salem, North Carolina
>
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