[pianotech] Hammer strike line. Was-----Yamaha Hammer Suggestion

[David Love]

I've found the same thing.  Strike line deviation being necessary on
original boards but when I replace the board on the same piano with a RC&S
board the strike line seems to straighten out, or the curve becomes
unnecessary.  What's that about?  

David Love
www.davidlovepianos.com

-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Ron Nossaman
Sent: Sunday, February 07, 2010 3:31 PM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Hammer strike line. Was-----Yamaha Hammer
Suggestion

William Truitt wrote:
> I too have staggered the strike line on Steinway grands and other pianos 
> to find the sweet spot and get the best tone.  So let's ask the question 
> of the why of that - what is going on in the plate and string interface 
> in relation to the action that requires something other than a straight 
> line to achieve the best tone? 


Look at where the farthest deviation from a straight line is. 
Gee, that looks like the most universally problematic part of 
Steinway, and other largely panel supported crown, scales. How 
can there possibly be tonal problems in the killer octave? 
Must be the plate casting.

As I periodically repeat, I find this phenomenon to not be 
obvious in low compression and adequately supported RC&S 
systems. I still check now and then, but find the difference, 
if I can detect any at all, to not be worth the trouble to 
deviate from the straight line on a new RC&S board. On an 
original board, it's likely obvious enough to be worth the 
trouble.

I think it's primarily the soundboard.
Ron N