[pianotech] Tone building in the modern piano

[John Ross]

When you say your antique player, how old is it?
Your antique piano is NOT all walnut, it is veneered. I was surprised that 
veneer was used even in the old ones, pre 1900.   The veneer actually 
lessens the chance of warping.
Soundboards, on all the players I have seen are spruce, same as the other 
pianos. Except of course for the laminate ones.
Duaine, you really would benefit from attending some convention classes.
When I started out, I had to borrow money to attend my first convention, and 
never regretted it.
I am probably approaching 20 attendances at them.
Which reminds me, I must register for Las Vegas, while the discount is still 
on.
John Ross
Windsor, Nova Scotia

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Duaine Hechler" <dahechler at att.net>
To: <pianotech at ptg.org>
Sent: Wednesday, May 19, 2010 10:55 AM
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Tone building in the modern piano


Tony Caught wrote:
> <snip>
>
> So to the nitty gritty. For the first part of the question.
>
> How can you improve the tone of a modern piano in the upper treble region.
>
> Tony Caught
> acaught at internode.on.net
>
I completely and whole heartedly concur. Several years ago, I wanted a
newer player piano - after having an antique one, that then I knew very
little about and was getting too many leaks to pump.

I hated the way it sounded and sounded NOTHING like the antique one.

Now, not that I'm well versed in piano construction, but, to me, to get
the same tone - you would have to start all over.

- The wood the piano was built with is not the same - my antique player
is - all - walnut.

- The soundboard is most likely made of different wood.

http://www.pianobuilders.com/soundboards.html

- The plate is most likely not the same chemical makeup of iron.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cast_iron

Iron <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron> (Fe) accounts for more than 95%
by weight (wt% <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wt%25>) of the alloy
material, while the main alloying elements are carbon
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon> (C) and silicon
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silicon> (Si).

- The strings - mine still has all its original steel strings - not
copper - again, the steel is probably not the same chemical makeup.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piano_wire

So, now to answer you question, you most likely are going to have to
checkout the kind of wood for the soundboard, the chemical makeup of the
plate and the chemical makeup of the steel strings.

-- 
Duaine Hechler
Piano, Player Piano, Pump Organ
Tuning, Servicing & Rebuilding
Reed Organ Society Member
Florissant, MO 63034
(314) 838-5587
dahechler at att.net
www.hechlerpianoandorgan.com
--
Home & Business user of Linux - 10 years