I can't give you the engineering explanation, I'm sure someone can. >From an empirical viewpoint, it does seem that the farther away (to a point) that the hammer is from the point of finger contact, the more one is able to feel the movement of the hammer. One aspect of control, I believe, has to do with how well you can perceive movement of the hammer through the key. The issue of saturation that Del mentioned only becomes a problem when the key is accelerated past a certain point and key flexing then inhibits further transfer of energy to the hammer (or something like that). It's less of an issue at low levels of playing. The other factor of greater control has to do with the rate of change in the touchweight as you move toward the balance rail. As you move toward the balance rail the effective touchweight increases geometrically. The longer the key, the less change per the same linear movement. Where there are two keys with equal downweight but different lengths, a key that is played 3" in from the end where the distance from tip to balance rail is 10", for example, will yield a proportionally heavier DW than a key which is played 3" in from the tip where the distance from tip to balance rail is 15". The relatively more uniform touchweight depending on where the key is played will yield more predictable touch dynamics and greater control. David Love davidlovepianos@comcast.net -----Original Message----- From: David Ilvedson [mailto:ilvey@sbcglobal.net] Sent: Tuesday, October 11, 2005 8:36 AM To: davidlovepianos@comcast.net Subject: RE: The Nossaman Steinway (was rebuilders..) Not that I doubt you...I'm trying to understand how a longer key offers more control? What is control for the pianist? He/She knows/feels anything done to the key will immediately happen at the hammer side? Can you explain that more? David Ilvedson, RPT Pacifica, California ----- Original message ---------------------------------------- From: "David Love" <davidlovepianos@comcast.net> To: ilvey@sbcglobal.net Received: 10/11/2005 8:15:05 AM Subject: RE: The Nossaman Steinway (was rebuilders..) >An overly flexible key is definitely not a good thing, but assuming the keys >are properly reinforced and adequately stiff, a longer key offers more >control. >David Love >davidlovepianos@comcast.net >-----Original Message----- >From: David Ilvedson [mailto:ilvey@sbcglobal.net] >Sent: Tuesday, October 11, 2005 8:03 AM >To: davidlovepianos@comcast.net >Subject: RE: The Nossaman Steinway (was rebuilders..) >With a longer bottom plate on the key...I certainly have played, for >instance some reproducer grands that did not have an maple plate at the >balance pin hole and I didn't like the feel...spongy. >David Ilvedson, RPT >Pacifica, California >----- Original message ---------------------------------------- >From: "David Love" <davidlovepianos@comcast.net> >To: ilvey@sbcglobal.net, Pianotech <pianotech@ptg.org> >Received: 10/10/2005 8:05:22 PM >Subject: RE: The Nossaman Steinway (was rebuilders..) >>Hopefully not. But sometimes they do and that problem can be remedied. >>David Love >>davidlovepianos@comcast.net >>-----Original Message----- >>From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On >Behalf >>Of David Ilvedson >>Sent: Monday, October 10, 2005 8:01 PM >>To: pianotech@ptg.org >>Subject: RE: The Nossaman Steinway (was rebuilders..) >>Don't longer keys have more of a tendency to flex? >>David Ilvedson, RPT >>Pacifica, California >>----- Original message ---------------------------------------- >>From: "David Love" <davidlovepianos@comcast.net> >>To: Pianotech <pianotech@ptg.org> >>Received: 10/10/2005 7:50:20 PM >>Subject: RE: The Nossaman Steinway (was rebuilders..) >>>Not sure that's how it works out. Longer keys generally give greater >>>control and less variation in touchweight dynamics when playing from >>>different positions on the key itself. >>>David Love >>>davidlovepianos@comcast.net >>>-----Original Message----- >>>From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On >>Behalf >>>Of gordon stelter >>>Sent: Monday, October 10, 2005 7:40 PM >>>To: Pianotech >>>Subject: Re: The Nossaman Steinway (was rebuilders..) >>>I really like smaller grands, Del, because the shorter >>>keys have less inertial mass to overcome, making the >>>actions more responsive, I believe. >>>I wish you well. It is a looooooong time since a >>>quality, satisfying to play, American small grand was >>>produced. >>> Thump >>>--- Erwinspiano@aol.com wrote: >>>> >>>> Del >>>> It's all good news & momentum will grow as other >>>> techs really hear these >>>> pianos. >>>> Dale Erwin >>>> >>>> Dale, et al... >>>> >>>> I am not planning on taking a piano to Rochester. >>>> My current interest is in >>>> smaller pianos and the test mule for my current >>>> thinking is under >>>> construction and won't be nearly ready by June. >>>> >>>> It is nice -- and some gratifying -- to see >>>> momentum growing, however. It >>>> seems it is no longer the unpardonable sin to >>>> tamper with the original "design" >>>> of pianos that are still held sacred by many. It >>>> is, of course, still a sin >>>> but with suitable penance the practitioners of >>>> these black arts are no longer >>>> tarred, feathered and run out of town. Now we are >>>> just put in stocks for a >>>> week. >>>> >>>> Despite not having one of my own pianos at the >>>> convention there should be a >>>> sample of my recent work, however. I just returned >>>> from Elkhart, Indiana >>>> where I supervised the assembly of the first >>>> prototype of the new piano I >>>> recently designed for the Walter company. I expect >>>> -- hope! -- it will raise one or >>>> two eyebrows. >>>> >>>> Del >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>> >>> >>>__________________________________ >>>Yahoo! Mail - PC Magazine Editors' Choice 2005 >>>http://mail.yahoo.com >>>_______________________________________________ >>>pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives >>>_______________________________________________ >>>pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives >>_______________________________________________ >>pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives
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