Pros & Cons

[Tom Servinsky]

Dave,
Couldn't agree more about the positives affects of the Wurzen front punchings. Some call it a firm landing, I on the other hand, call it definite landing. Artist types are always in search a predictable and accurate landing. Remember, fine action regulation it's all about getting from point A to point B as evenly, cleanly, and as efficient as possible.  The Wurzen front punching defines the landing point more accurately than anything I have ever tried. 
Tom Servinsky
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: piannaman at aol.com 
  To: pianotech at ptg.org 
  Sent: Sunday, April 30, 2006 1:52 AM
  Subject: Re: Pros & Cons


   I replaced my M and H's (4 year old action, renner punchings) with Wurzens, and they were a huge improvement in terms of regulation and feel when played.

  I have done a couple of other clients' pianos, one an S and S "M" that was previously very mushy feeling.  It is vastly improved in many ways.  Though some might find the landing somewhat firm, I like the definition of letoff and aftertouch.

  A no-lose experiment is to put them in your action model, if you have one.  

  Joe, I'd bet that your Schimmel punchings aren't Wurzen.  For one thing, while Schimmels are nice pianos for the most part, I've found on many that I've dealt with over the years, there are some shortcuts taken in areas where the consumer is not likely to notice anything.  There are many punchings they can get by with that are substantially cheaper than Crescendos!

  And the hammers I've seen on two Schimmels I've tuned recently were brutally hard in tune, and a needling nightmare.  

  Dave Stahl


  Dave Stahl Piano Service
  650-224-3560
  dstahlpiano at sbcglobal.net
  http://dstahlpiano.net/




   
  -----Original Message-----
  From: Jurgen Goering <pianoforte at pianofortesupply.com>
  To: pianotech <pianotech at ptg.org>
  Sent: Sat, 29 Apr 2006 12:07:23 -0700
  Subject: Pros & Cons


  Hello Joe, 
  I am aware that Schimmel used a white felt front rail punching in the 1990s. I'm not sure who manufactured that felt. Perhaps you have some information on that. Otherwise, you may be jumping to conclusions to assume that any firm, white 6 mm thick felt is made by Wurzen or is indeed the Crescendo felt. 
   
  The Crescendo Punching felt has only been available for a few years. Since then, there have been some changes made to the formulation of the felt to yet improve on the quality and resilience. 
  I am no expert on felt - felt making is a world unto itself. But I have been studying the subject and am gaining some insights into the complexity and diversity of felt production. Contrary to what you write, the Crescendo felt is not "hard/firm pressed". Rather, it gets its density through a proprietary method of "fulling" which involves agitation of the felt f! leeces while using special lubricants to attain a deep interlocking of the wool fibers. This way, you get a firm felt with a lot of natural resilience of the wool fiber. 
   
  This is what sets this special felt apart from other felts, which use heat and pressure and sometimes steam to attain density and firmness. A by-product of that process is hardness. Resilience is lost, for the most part. This leads to a knocking sound when used is an application such as a front rail punching. 
   
  I am constantly getting feedback from technicians who are amazed that Crescendo punchings can give such a defined key dip and aftertouch yet still cut back on key noise. Just today I heard about about an accomplished player who perceived the touch as "softer" after the old, mushy punchings had been replaced by Crescendos. Perception is in the fingers/ears of the pianist, of course, so who is to argue? 
   
   I suggest replacing the original Schimm! el front rail punchings with Crescendos and try them out. 
  &nb sp;Just my biased view <G> 
   
  Jurgen Goering 
  Piano Forte Supply 
  (250) 754-2440 
  info at pianofortesupply.com 
  http://www.pianofortesupply.com 
  ---------------------------- 
  Joe wrote: 
  snip... 
  They are Wurzen, hard/firm pressed felt...just like the Crescendo ones I got from Jurgen a while back! And here I thought this was a NEW thingee! 
  snip... 
  The main complaint, (once I pinned her down), was that the Schimmel FEELS too "Mechanical"! And she can hear the key hitting the bottom while she is playing! These two things REALLY bug her. 
  snip 
   
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