What would Steinway do

[Farrell]

In the world of all-wood rails, I have only seen solid wood (usually hard 
maple). What is a "heavy engineered wood" rail?

Terry Farrell

----- Original Message ----- 
> The brass clad rails aren't as bad as the aluminum rails for just plain 
> clunky action noise which can take over in pianissimo playing.  The fine 
> pianos I've encountered use heavy engineered wood rails to resist 
> dimensional movement with the climate and they have quiet actions.  The 
> little brass clad rails are rather flexible under exuberant playing. 
> There have been instructions posted to couple them to help stiffen them a 
> little by coupling two rails.  They are also difficult to get solid 
> alignment on especially when you want to reduce casting a little.
>
> Andrew Anderson
>
> At 10:52 PM 3/4/2007, you wrote:
>
>>>Just curious, and something I've always wondered about - what do you 
>>>think are the advantages/disadvantages of wooden action rails vs. metal 
>>>vs. metal-clad hardwood?
>>>Terry Farrell
>>
>>For me, stiffness, and ease of traveling and alignment with wooden rails. 
>>The question is, what is the justification for brass clad tubular action 
>>rails?
>>Ron N