Hi Geoff,
I have fingers too large to fit between the sharps too, but never thought much of it for years. I began studying as a child, when I didn't have that problem - and just adapted over time without any conscious awareness of it. That is, until recently. When I played a rapid Chopin Prelude on Jim Reeder's 9' Bluthner at NAMM this year it appeared mistake free, which prompted Catherine to exclaim that I had found my piano. I understand that the newer Bluthners do have narrower sharps. So $175,000 for a Bluthner and my concert career is launched! I'll have to drag it everywhere like Gottschalk and Horowitz -
25 years ago I met a technician at a Steinway weeklong training whose fingers were twice as fat as mine, and who could really play - mostly Dino, but it was impressive and near miraculous.
He had learned to negotiate the impossible.
So - you could probably learn to manage, like me, but with today's narrower sharp options you could be mistake free too!
Jet lagged in Lancaster -
Original Message------
It wouldnt be too hard to make the sharps narrower. A few thousandths off each side could make a difference. Never hurts to customize.