Steinway Sustain

[Kevin E. Ramsey]

    Very good listing, Tony. I know just where you're coming from, having
been in the exact same position myself.
    This brings up an interesting topic, which I have wondered about myself,
quite a bit lately. What's the humidity in Australia like, where you live?
Steinway really forces their sound boards into the rim. They're better in a
dry climate than a humid one. Could you perhaps have too much downbearing?
    My question to the more experienced people, ( Del, where are you?) is
what effect does too much downbearing have on tone?  Wouldn't that make the
board so high that it would transfer the energy more quickly than we would
like?
    Hey, I'm just really trying to come up with some answers here, and at
the same time learn a little myself.
    I think Jim C. does searches for listings that reference him. Jim
Coleman Sr. ( You there, bud?)
    There, can you help us out Jim?
Btw; if you regulated the action not too long ago, ( you said some time ago,
how long?)  it is probably not due to a regulation problem. You'll probably
find that it's still OK, and still be asking yourself why does it have so
little sustain.
    BTW 2: You remember what I said about shoulder needling? Well, today, I
had an Asian piano that had ONE note that was all attack, and no sustain. I
needled the heck out of it: helped, but not as much as I hoped for, so I
guess I've got a little learning to do myself. ( Yes, I checked everything
else too, sheesh, you don't think I read this stuff here?)

Kevin E. Ramsey
ramsey@extremezone.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tony Caught" <caute@optusnet.com.au>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Monday, April 16, 2001 8:03 AM
Subject: Re: Steinway Sustain


> André, Ron, Kevin, David, David, Roger and Newton
>
> The history of this piano is that it was sold by Allans in Melbourne at a
> very cheap price on the recommendation of a well known pianist at a very
> cheap price.  I suspect that many techs in Melbourne have tried to fix the
> problem but can't. Thus the price.  AU$27,500.00.
>
> Have regulated the action some time ago to 1mm and spent a few hours
filing
> hammers, mating to the strings, setting hammer strike etc but the problem
> stayed about the same. Its probably due for another major regulation but I
> don't think that's it.
>
> Hammers are hard, have thought of changing them but have doubts that this
> will fix the problem, maybe give me a better tone but not fix the problem.
>
> I have a gut feeling that the problem is related to the aliquot bar or the
> soundboard.
> Didn't think that a soundboard design would be a problem with a Steinway.
>
> The sustain has the same problem wether plucked or struck, seems to rule
out
> the hammers and regulation.  From memory the problem area is related to
one
> section  of the aliquot system and I thought at the time that maybe that
> section was not seated properly, not sure.
>
> I am trying to decide on which path of attack to go.
>
> Check the downbearing between bridge and aliquot, board crown, ribs,
liners,
> bridge pins, weight the soundboard down to stiffen it (is a great idea)
> analize results.
>
> A Steinway is a Steinway, its still the best piano in town, I want it
> better, I don't ever want a complaint.  It has the tone, is clear of
sound,
> easy to tune, rock solid but.
>
> You know what I mean.
>
> Being the only tech in town I am often flat out, never make money (forget
to
> raise prices every year). Not having any peers to talk to or discuss
> problems sometime makes this a lonely job.
>
> Thanks guys,
>
> Tony Caught
>