Steinway B Scale Conversion

[Jurgen Goering]

One novel way to iron out the hills and valleys in the scaling on some 
pianos is to restring with Pure Sound Wire.   Without wanting to steal 
anyone's thunder, this is something that may be of interest:  At the 
upcoming Pacific Northwest Conference in Salt Lake CIty, Juan 
Mas-Cabre, the Dutch innovator behind Pure Sound Wire will be 
presenting on this exact topic.  Two Steinways will be on hand, one 
strung in Pure Sound, to allow a practical  comparison of the two.  As 
well, he will be making scaling "recipes" available for different 
Steinway models.

This is sure to be an eye and ear-opening seminar, I sure am looking 
forward to it.

Jurgen Goering
Piano Forte Supply
(250) 754-2440
info at pianofortesupply.com
http://www.pianofortesupply.com


On Mar 31, 2007, at 7:45, David Love wrote :
  [BOLD by me]

> I have a B coming into the shop that I will do the same thing with as 
> the customer is very unhappy with the scale transition from tenor to 
> bass.  When you look at the scale on that piano you find that note 21 
> on the original drops down into the 125 lb range from upwards of 
> 155-160 higher up in the scale.  No wonder the bottom of the tenor on 
> a B sounds like rubber bands.  When you add the high tension leap into 
> the bass, that transition is impossible to smooth out—voicing can’t 
> solve all problems!  Separating the bass bridge from the tenor gives 
> the lower part of the bass bridge more mobility and, when combined 
> with a bit of rescaling the core dimensions, should enhance the 
> fundamental down there.  I think this is a good solution.  What are 
> the new speaking lengths of notes 21 through 24?
He also wrote:
> I think the social/business inertia is the main reason.  A change in 
> the
> industry will not be driven by "enough [who] do like it".  You don't 
> have to
> "buy it" but my subjective opinion is that it makes a qualitative
> improvement.  It's actually measurable.  Your own new scaling spread 
> sheet
> might shed some light on the matter.  Check it out.  The change in 
> tone is
> quite obvious on the original design.  I have to say that I've never 
> ever,
> not even once, had a customer who asked whether or not I could change 
> the
> scaling on a given piano so that the transition from the tenor to the 
> bass
> would be more obvious and less of a tonal match as exists on the B.  I 
> have
> had quite a few who complained about it though.  The number of techs 
> who are
> opting for different bass scales on these and other similar pianos 
> speaks
> volumes.  The industry is always the last to know and definitely the 
> last to
> respond (if they ever do).  When you are selling your inventory, why 
> change?
> But that doesn't mean that there aren't improvements that can and 
> should be
> made for legitimate reasons by techs willing to question the status 
> quo.
> snip..
>
> David Love
>

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