Steinway Style 2 Pitch Emergency

[Erwinpiano]

----- Original Message -----

> Richard,
> Not a misprint as to the pitch level that I described.In  order to  bring
> tenson level to those of A-440 type tensions the steinway stlye 2 actually
I
> think I said one, the piano needed to be tuned one half step high.This was
> not an arbitrary decision . I used the original.string scale and bridge
> placement.The speaking length on A note 85 was 1 and 13/16 inch long which
> at pitch yielded a mere 105 pounds as I recall .Not enough tens. to even
> sound dismal. The whole of the top two treble sections was weak and
> lifeless.Crunching more strings lengths and tens. told the same low tens.
> story.After consulting with Paul bailey who is historical temp. whizz and
> also with danny at G.C. bass strings, doing some number crunching ,  it
> became clearer that this piano was scaled this way during the mid 1800,s
> pitch wars.My final confirmation was the P.T.J. annivs. journal which
listed
> several makers varying pitch levels. Determining the tens. was safe I
pulled
> the piano to it;s designed pitch level and the whole piano just came to
> life. The treble though agraffed to the top sounded quite big and balanced
> with the rest of the piano.This effect was the icing on this rebuilders
cake
> ,because up to that point my gorgeous sitka board and that other work
seemed
> as though it was an exersise in historical piano futility.I would have
been
> delighted to hear any musical literature played on this Antique! The
> downside is hearing all your favorite pieces at pitch level one is not
used
> to .I humbly suggest doing your research if your considering such a
> project.If I had I may have chosen to move the bridge and rescale it so
> pitch levels are normal to our hearing .Bored  yet? The piano now lives in
> Palm Springs waiting for someone to play it!But at least when it is it
will
> be like stepping back in time and sampling apiece of Steinway history and
> expierience a little piano evolution.Any other thoughts out there?
Dale
> Erwin  R.P.T.
>