What would Steinway do

[Allen Wright]

David,

I had explored some of the archives since I wrote my last message,  
and found some of the earlier discussions of the Hamburg versus NY  
issues, including this one about action ratio you mention. That's  
quite interesting, and something I'll watch for.

By the way, I've only been in Europe three months now, having moved  
to London from Cincinnati. So rather than a 'European guy', I'm  
really an American transplant who is only now encountering Hamburg  
pianos in a big way. Thus, my interest in your statement.

I'm discovering all kinds of small (and also not so small)  
differences between the two instruments, many of which I had never  
heard about before. For example, one small but significant difference  
(certainly in terms of regulation technique) is that the damper wires  
are much softer than the ones on NY pianos - so much so that it's  
possible to bend the wires without using bending pliers (which some  
techs here do). Another larger difference is in the lyre and pedals,  
which are completely different, without the locking plate and  
continuous pin. The list goes on and on...(I've actually started a  
running list of the differences, out of curiosity).

Thanks David.

Allen Wright, RPT




On 4 Mar 2007, at 05:40, David Andersen wrote:

>
> On Mar 3, 2007, at 10:29 AM, Allen Wright wrote:
>> Are you're referring to approaches to restoration, quality of the  
>> workmanship, and things like that? I'd be very interested to know  
>> what you perceive the differences between the two to be.
>>
>> Thanks,
>
> OK. I'll stick to just one, steady, measurable difference.  I do a  
> quick action ratio check on pretty much every grand piano I come  
> to; American Steinways have action ratios that are all over the  
> map, with very few below 6.0, and many above that, which is  
> defective in my view. German Steinways almost always have an action  
> ratio of 5.5, 5.6, or 5.7---what I consider to be ideal, and should  
> be repeatable in a well-controlled, craft-oriented and led factory  
> setting. To me, this is an indication, a clue, and could be  
> revealing of many other such disparities...each piano technician  
> has to make their own judgement.  The problem is, most American  
> techs have little or no experience with German Steinways, and the  
> reverse applies to European and Asian techs.
>
> The negativity you European guys pick up from us in the States is  
> experience-based and documented; it's not some sour-grapes,  
> personality-deficit-driven or ego-driven thing.
>
> David Andersen
>






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