[pianotech] Stiff WNG? (was Steinway top)

[David Love]

Why would a non felt bushing lower the action saturation point and why is a
lower action saturation point more desirable?  

 

I thought action saturation had to do with the relative flexibility of the
levers (shank or key) that can result in an inability to accelerate the
hammer beyond a certain point due to excessive flexing.  So unless I'm
thinking of this backwards I thought a lower action saturation point was a
potential problem as characterized by accelerated actions without the shoe
where the key lacks adequate stiffness.  

 

Re Joe's point, how do the carbon fiber shanks compare in terms of
flexibility to, say, a traditional Steinway 3/16" shank?  With light hammers
some people do complain about the Renner hex shanks because of excessive
stiffness and therefore a lack of feel.  The action saturation point, as I
view it, would be lower with the 3/16" shanks (when compared to the 7/16"
hex shanks) because they are more flexible but one might have greater feel
of the hammer especially if the hammers were very light in weight.  

 

David Love

www.davidlovepianos.com

 

From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Delwin D Fandrich
Sent: Monday, October 03, 2011 10:42 PM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Stiff WNG? (was Steinway top)

 

The current WN&G parts do not use felt bushings so there is slightly less
compliance in the system. That is, the action saturation point is slightly
lower and the action feels just a bit more "connected" (for lack of a better
term). That is, the hammer's motion is a little more directly connected to
the key's motion. Under most circumstances this would be considered a good
thing. Especially if relatively light hammers are used. Other than that I
can't imagine a WN&G action feeing "stiff." 

 

I'm also curious; what is it that is going to be so difficult to service
down the road? And what is it that is going to need all that servicing?
Maybe I'm missing something but they seem like pretty rugged parts to me.
Bruce Clark made up a two-note model action for my dual mono-chord a couple
of years back and that poor thing has been through a piano action's version
of hell. It's been moved, packed and shipped, banged on by any number of
technicians and other interested parties and generally mistreated by
everyone. Any ordinary action would have fallen apart by now but this thing
still functions like it did the day it arrived all fresh and new. Near as I
can tell these are very rugged actions. Were I putting actions in music
school practice rooms this would be my choice simply from a reliability
standpoint. (I'm curious-are there any CAUT's out there with any experience
with these actions in practice rooms?) I'll concede there may be issues
showing up over time that are not now evident but so far these action parts
have stood up better than any conventional wood action with traditional felt
bushings would have given similar use and abuse.

 

ddf

 

Delwin D Fandrich

Piano Design & Fabrication

6939 Foothill Court SW, Olympia, Washington 98512 USA

Phone  360.515.0119 - Cell  360.388.6525

del at fandrichpiano.com  <mailto:del at fandrichpiano.com> - ddfandrich at gmail.com

 

From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Ed Foote
Sent: Monday, October 03, 2011 6:42 PM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: [pianotech] Stiff WNG? (was Steinway top)

 


 Joe writes: 

>>As for the WN&G action on a Steinway? Not in my world. But, there are
those

that like stiff actions and impossible repair situations down the road. 

 

    Ok,  this is the first I have heard of a WNG action being stiff.  I
would like to hear comments on that from those that have used and/or played
them.  And, what is impossible to repair? 

Regards, 

Ed Foote RPT
http://www.piano-tuners.org/edfoote/index.html

 

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