Delwin D Fandrich wrote: > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Overs Pianos" <sec@overspianos.com.au> > To: <pianotech@ptg.org> > Sent: November 28, 2001 10:49 PM > Subject: Re: Grand Regulation Compromises > > > After years of regulating performance instruments, and taking note of > > the preferences of a number of pianists, I have settled on a key dip > > of 10.25 mm. I have found that a 10.5 dip will yield the occasional > > "it's too deep" complaint, and vice versa with 10.0 mm. Obviously, > > the center of 'public preference' has come about in part from the > > individual's experience with a number of different instruments, but > > setting the dip to a figure which will satisfy the greatest number of > > pianist is to be recommended, provided that the action in question > > will function well at that setting. > > > > Sigh! How things change with time. Or, perhaps I should say, how our > perceptions change with time. > > When I started in this business a key travel of 9.5 mm (0.375") was > considered the norm and Steinway's 10 mm (0.395") was, by many, considered > some on the deep side. Time passes and hammers get heavier but our fingers > didn't get any stronger to compensate so action ratios have to change > accordingly. Key travel has to increase so we can produce ever-more strident > and raucous sounds from our pianos without inducing carpel stress syndrome > in all of the pianists playing these beasts. > > Has it occurred to anyone that the pianist might be better off with somewhat > lighter, more resilient hammers so we could move back toward a more > realistic key travel? The human hands and fingers can only put up with so > much abuse beyond which they will ultimately rebel. Even 10 mm of key travel > should be considered excessive for rapid key work. Sure it takes a bit of > getting used to now. Most everyone has become used to the massive actions > required to play today's somewhat less than musical pianos, but give them a > reasonable alternative and see what happens. (Yes, I've conducted the > experiments--people really can play the piano with a key travel of 9.0 to > 9.5 mm. And, when the piano is tonally responsive, they love it!) > > Del Better watch out there Del.... we find ourselves in complete agreement...grin. Sounds to me like you lean just a tad in the LWHT direction... you do know Ed personally dont you ? -- Richard Brekne RPT, N.P.T.F. Bergen, Norway mailto:rbrekne@broadpark.no
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