[pianotech] Worst Bass/Tenor Crossover in Universe

Delwin D Fandrich del at fandrichpiano.com
Tue Jan 8 12:22:45 MST 2013


A lot of Baldwin grands built that way did develop some minor cracks along
inside curve of the treble-side rim. Baldwin knew about the problem but,
since the problem area was hidden beneath the frame and because it didn't
seem to present any particular tone problem was ignored. If a dealer or
owner discovered a crack in this area the problem the piano would be brought
back in and be repaired. Unless they could be convinced that this was a
normal thing in Baldwin soundboards. Rather like compression ridges being a
normal thing in Steinway's soundboards. 

When I designed the Walter grands I specified inset ribs for roughly the top
six ribs. Both for this reason and because I wanted a little extra stiffness
up there. The lower ribs floated.

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.comddfandrich at gmail.com


-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Encore Pianos
Sent: Tuesday, January 08, 2013 10:28 AM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Worst Bass/Tenor Crossover in Universe

FWIW Jim, I can offer my experience as a former Baldwin dealer.  The
majority of the grands I sold  did not have the ribs notched into the rim,
but rather ended them 1/4" or so from the edge of the rim.  I can't remember
seeing cracks on new or older product in the area of your concern.  While I
don't have a large sample to draw from, my suspicion would be that such
cracking is all but a non-issue.  Del would be a good person to get some
feedback from on this, both from his Baldwin experience and his own upright
design.  

Regarding the Pheonix agraffes, it is my understanding that they are not
available to rebuilders as an aftermarket product (unless that has changed
recently). 

Will Truitt



-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Jim Ialeggio
Sent: Tuesday, January 08, 2013 12:56 PM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: [pianotech] Worst Bass/Tenor Crossover in Universe

Ron wrote:

<We may not ever be able to make a 5' piano indistinguishable from a 9'
piano, but we can almost surely make them sound obviously better than the
manufacturer ever managed.

Right. I am, in my own thinking, distinguishing between 5' with the entire
bass hugging the rim, and 5' with some room from the rim to play with.

I also used the words stiffness and restriction interchangeably, which to be
clear, both in my own thinking and in communicating this stuff, is not the
same thing.

I am also edging closer to selectively bagging rim notches in cross grain
areas where stiffness is required(ribs), but freedom of movement is
desirable. (but still a bit concerned about panel cracks at the rim
joint)

Also, there might be a completely different approach. Since the Phoenix
agraffes are designed to be used at zero bearing, the zero bearing could
conceivably allow a high bass cantilever without the roll
tendency???maybe??? Though in a sh-t box like Terry's victim, the point is
largely hypothetical.

Jim Ialeggio

-- 
Jim Ialeggio	
jim at grandpianosolutions.com
978 425-9026
Shirley Center, MA






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