[pianotech] GH-1s

[David Love]

I think it may be that what you heard in those pianos was a much lower
tension scale.  Those lower tension scales produce less power but stronger
fundamental which can be heard as greater clarity, a simpler and warmer
sound anyway.  I have a customer with an 1850's Bosendorfer, wooden frame,
very low tension.  The piano lacks the power, of course, of a modern piano
but has a certain warmth and character to it that is quite pleasing.  I have
not analyzed the bass scale but you can hear that it is lower tension.
While it would sound out of character with the Steinway A that she also has,
it works very well in this particular instrument.  I don't think it would
work well in a small modern piano either as the tensions in those small
pianos are still relatively high.    All things need to be in balance.  

David Love
www.davidlovepianos.com



On Tue 12/18/2012 6:34 AM Jim Ialeggio wrote:

I also know that wires of lower tensile strength are not new, and were in
fact part of the tonal palette ( along with higher ratios and softer lighter
hammers) in earlier modern pianos. Some of my experimenting is a direct
response to hearing how the tonal palette, in certain earlier pianos, though
less powerful throughout, especially in the bass, gave a clarity to
registration, and differentiation that is absent in the modern piano. In
these instruments, as a member of the audience in a small venue concert, I
experience the "lack of power", but accompanying differentiation as a
decided advantage rather than a detriment.