[pianotech] S&S "D" Keys with Attachments on To

[David Love]

If you waited to quantify the benefits of every possible procedure you'd
probably never do anything.  However, I would imagine that the stiffness of
a key can be calculated like any beam.  It would be pretty easy to compare
the new and old Ds this way since the differences are really only in height
(material and length are the same).  Many decisions about things while
calculable are undertaken on empirical data.  That goes for FW ceilings,
scaling, soundboard thickness, rib dimensions, tuning styles, the list goes
on and on.  

David Love
www.davidlovepianos.com


-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Richard Brekne
Sent: Friday, February 13, 2009 9:02 AM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] S&S "D" Keys with Attachments on To

One understands the general rational to be sure. Its just that the whole 
thing has never really been even close to quantified in any real sense 
of the word. Then too... I don't really see pianists making any kind of 
a point out of this. If the general, albeit vague, consensus of pianists 
assessment is laid to bear on the subject... then this seems less then a 
necessary procedure.  I dont see it written in stone that the delay 
between key depression and hammer string contact that can be traced to 
key flexure is something pianists do not appreciate.  That said... I 
have a few Yamaha's laying around that have a horrible delay feeling on 
a hard blow... and key flexure has nothing to do with it.

Not to dispute the desirability of stiffer keys on some instruments out 
of hand... I just think it would be valuable to better quantify the 
relationship between key stiffness, action compliance otherwise, and how 
pianists react to various configurations.

Cheers
RicB


    The basis is that they flex too much and you lose power at the upper
    end. When Steinway went to the accelerated action they removed the
    lower shoe in order to make room for the bearing.  On a D, in
    particular, with extra key length that reduction in height adds
    unwanted flex and it is easily demonstrated as well as felt on hard
    blows with a delay between key depression and hammer string
    contact.  Restoring the original height of the key with an elongated
    top shoe also restores much of the lost stiffness. Keys can be too
    stiff, I suppose, but it is not likely to happen in this situation.  

    David Love
    www.davidlovepianos.com