Nordiska

[Delwin D Fandrich]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Farrell" <mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com>
To: "Pianotech" <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: September 06, 2003 3:12 AM
Subject: Re: Nordiska


> Quite true. A good car stereo can do a very good job of demonstrating the
effect of good bass. Turn the subwoofers down (covering up to 100 or 150
Hz) and several $K stereo can sound about a shallow as an AM transistor
radio - maybe more clear, maybe louder, but just as "small". Good full bass
just seems to transform the whole package. I believe it is much the same
with a piano.
>
> 'Course, a dy-no-mite subwoofer coupled to a 9V 1962 transistor radio
ain't a-gonner impress anyone either! A complete sound requires a complete
package.
---------------------------

On reflection I didn't think much of my previous response to this, so now
you get Part II.

Your point is well taken. And for many people nothing will do but the whole
multi-channel system complete with three-way, umpteen-driver systems
complete with ThunderBox (R) sub-woofers. But, consider...

The vast majority of speaker systems sold for home use have a significant
low frequency drop-off starting in somewhere around 100 to 150 Hz. And this
includes speakers selling well into the $2K and $3K range. (Real world
frequency response tests, not manufacturer's claims.) A few go all the way
down to 60 to 80 Hz without too much distortion. Still, according to my
casual survey of several years back, most of these systems are sold without
benefit of any sub-woofers. Yet by most reviewers and owners these
speakers -- by themselves and without the benefit of sub-woofers -- give
them excellent reviews in terms of overall musical response and listener
enjoyment.

How can this be? They lob off roughly the first one to two-and-a-half
octaves of the piano? They get by with this by delivering excellent
performance through their primary range and by giving (often) substantially
reduced, but still musically acceptable performance down below their
primary musical range.

The small piano will fit into the same category. True it will never deliver
the "good, full bass" you crave. And it will not be purchased by those to
whom this is of primary importance. Still, in spite of being maligned and
condemned by 98.73% of all piano tuners and technicians for nearly a
century now there continues to be a strong demand for them. Why? Well,
there are a number of folks for whom the piano is not the absolute focus of
their lives. (I realize this is hard to accept, but extensive market
surveys seem to imply that this is true.) But they still like the idea of
having a piano around. Kind of like the guy who may not ever show up at the
Olympics as a member of the US Rifle Team but still likes to go out and pop
a few targets. As well, there are a few folks out there who really do like
the piano, who really want a grand piano and who live in a 900 sq/ft condo.

Why shouldn't these folks be able to enjoy the best musical experience
possible? Why must they be relegated to the pathetic piano-shaped objects
typically offered in this size range?

By giving the instrument an excellent, smooth and dynamic mid-bass, tenor
and treble it will already offer more musical excitement than most of the
pianos offered in the 170 to 180 cm range. It doesn't really have to be the
most powerful, knock-your-socks off piano in the industry. Power isn't
everything. (As was illustrated by a performance of mostly Chopin I was
unfortunate enough to witness a couple of months back. The pianist was
pounding away at the poor piano with a ferocity that would have surely
demolished anything around in Chopin's day. Possibly because the piano -- a
well-known concert grand -- was simply incapable of anything resembling
musicality.)

I remain adamant and unrepentant: the small piano is capable of good
musical performance. That they do not consistently deliver this should be
an embarrassment to our industry.

Del