Hi Jim, The two questions I meant to ask, 1 What can be done to improve the tone of the modern piano. 2 Does the modern piano need to be improved in tone. My reference to the modern piano goes from maybe 1960's on as being the modern piano. The time era when the construction of the piano changed to make them cheaper. An example would be :- Soundboards in the older piano was thinner in the bass section and thicker in the treble section. Graded of course as per the individual firm or soundboard planer. In many modern pianos the soundboard is the same thickness throughout. Music teachers in the 1970's didn't like Yamahas, sounded tinny etc., then the universities bought them cheap and in bulk to teach on. Now the new music teacher has grown up with a new sound and says that the Yamaha is a good sound. There is a difference in the sound of pianos as to where they are manufactured. The three most common are European, American and Asian. I prefer the sound of the older European or American piano to the more common (today) Asian piano. In most cases. Some Kawai's have the sound of Europe, and so forth. Thus we have the two questions. What can be done to improve the tone of the modern piano - and - does it need improving. If we go back in the history of the piano, yes you have a point. Once upon a time piano manufacturers were exactly that. They made pianos. Then came the industrial revolution and the mechanised age where furniture manufacturers started making pianos about 1880's. But, many or most of these pianos were made from parts or sections made by piano manufacturers. Ie. The strung back. The action, the keyboard etc. I think a statement made in the Blue Book of something like " the quality piano of today is made in the old fashion way" What I want to know is how can I improve the treble in a modern piano or is it not worth the effort. Tony Tony Caught acaught at internode.on.net -----Original Message----- From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of jimialeggio Sent: Thursday, 20 May 2010 9:45 AM To: pianotech at ptg.org Subject: Re: [pianotech] back to the Tone question in the modern piano, please Tony, If I'm reading the wording of your question correctly, I think you're asking 2 different questions. Could you clarify these points: This first one seems to be aesthetic > On reading these words it again reminded me of why I (in general) prefer the > sound of the older pianos. Be it the shape of the soundboard, the tension of > the string or the hardness of the hammer, the older pianos in my opinion > gave a harmonically richer tone with greater sustain than there comparative > model it today's stable of pianos. > > The question I am asking is two fold. What can be done to improve the tone > of the modern piano. or, Does the modern piano need to be improved in tone. > And this second is referring to design issues, I think, independent of aesthetic design decisions.. I think?.. > Personally I find that the majority of modern pianos above C7 totally > lacking in any sense of harmonicity and the last 4 top notes have no > discernable tone at all. I know I am going deaf but then I tune an older > piano that's in good condition (the last one was a Steingraber upright) and > I could hear every note with a clarity and harmonicity that I can enjoy. > > 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 > So are you interested in the aesthetic question, or is you question simply whats wrong with the top octave? If your are also interested in the aesthetic question, what do you refer to as the modern piano. I see the the modern piano is kind of a continuum from the big power push in, what, 1860ish, to now. Just interested in your point of view. Jim I -- Jim Ialeggio grandpianosolutions.com 978- 425-9026 Shirley, MA
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