Amy, I have not examined the original string scale of a Baldwin F, so I will be making some educated guesses here. Likely the bottom 4 notes in the tenor would be Type 1 Paulello wire as the best choice, transitioning from there to Type O carried up to a calculated transition point, from there Type M or your Roslau or Mapes wire to the top.
The most important consideration in hybrid scaling is breaking percentage and not tension as in traditional scaling. We certainly want to smooth tension, inharmonicity and many other factors, but the most important consideration is breaking percentage if we must prioritize one over the other. Even on larger pianos, both tension and breaking percentages drop as we descend the scale towards the bottom of the tenor. That is because the size of the piano only allows us to make the speaking lengths just so long. Typically, we raise the tension by increasing the size of the wire gauge, with the hope of getting better tone. But, as we increase the tension by using a larger gauge of wire, the breaking percentages drop. And there is a point in increasing wire diameter where thick wire does not sound so good, because it is too thick and the breaking percentage too low.
Part of the reason why it does not sound so good is that breaking percentages drop more and more as the wire gets thicker. There is a goldilocks zone of good piano tone related to breaking percentages. When one substitutes a properly chosen weaker wire type (type 1 or type 0), then the breaking percentages rise into the zone of good tone. You also get a better blend across the break.
When Michael talks about lowering the tensions in the monochords, there is enough safe headroom for him to reduce the size of the cores. This will lower the tension, but also raise the breaking percentage and lower the inharmonicity. This can be done with traditional wire. If one substitutes Paulello Type O in at least the bottom monochords, then one can further raise the breaking percentages to our advantage. We also have more ways to play with the scaling regarding the size of the wraps, and we have another valuable tool in our box.
------------------------------
William Truitt
Bridgewater NH
603-744-2277
------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 07-14-2021 17:09
From: Peter Grey
Subject: Another Baldwin F
Amy,
Going whole hog into rescaling will require you to invest in an entirely new set of wire types which can start getting pricey, and some software (often free but not always) to analyze, etc. Or you can pay someone to do it for you.
There are several possible approaches to the matter of rescaling as has been alluded to, however a simple "seat of the pants" rescaling (with benefits) can be accomplished simply by substituting Paulello type 0 wire for the existing low tenor gauges up to about halfway into #17 gauge wire, at which point you can switch over to your standard wire type. I do this quite often with good results. What this does is to raise the breaking % point a little higher in the direction of ideal. Then have your bass strings made by one of the makers that has the capacity to optimize the bass section. All you need to do is send the string lengths data they ask for and they do the rest.
IMPORTANT CAVEAT: Paulello wire is metric, therefore "virtually" .001" less in diameter than standard American gauge wire. Therefore you must step up one half size in Paulello compared to AWG wire, e.g. if existing printed scale calls for 20 gauge you will need to use 20.5 gauge in Paulello (metric) to match that. Same for all sizes.
It can be very helpful to measure string lengths and plug them into software that will show you where improvements can be made, but generally speaking on large, well designed instruments the plain wire portions are usually already pretty good. If you want to start getting esoteric about it be prepared to need to learn a lot.
Of course poorly scaled pianos can benefit a lot from a good rescaling. But if you just want to get your feet wet the above will do that for you.
Others may disagree and present other options for you. It's up to you.
Pwg
------------------------------
Peter Grey
Stratham NH
603-686-2395
pianodoctor57@gmail.com
Original Message:
Sent: 07-14-2021 13:21
From: Amy Baldinger
Subject: Another Baldwin F
Questions about rescaling - for those recommending doing that is it because it's known that the original scale is not ideal? Or that new technology (Paulello wire?) makes a big improvement? I'm not experienced with rescaling except for one terribly scaled ???? - don't even remember the make --- that I helped my mentor rescale years ago.
------------------------------
Amy Baldinger
Vashon WA
206-459-7672
Original Message:
Sent: 07-14-2021 09:04
From: Michael Evans
Subject: Another Baldwin F
Hi Bill:
Your right about the lacquer, of course. Baldwin lacquered those babies until they were hard enough to produce a tone that is way too bright. I tried to wash the lacquer out of a set once with MEK as a solvent because it has a longer evaporation tim than other solvent that could be used. Then bring it back where I wanted it with thin B-72. It worked ok. I got a mellower sound, but it kind of sounded tired.
Replace them with Bacons and bring them up just enough and you get a heavenly, rich, complex tone that emphasizes the fundamental throughout the piano. It makes for big bass, warm midrange and a bell like top. Combine that with a rescaled bass with lower tension Paulello cores and at least 7 or 8 trichords in the low tenor replaced with Paulello wire and you get a lot of clarity-especially in the low bass. The break can be evened out incredibly well, too. The top turns out to be so sweet and bell-like.
If you are going to be in Orlando, I would like to get more detail from you about the light hammers in the 1954 F.
Best regards,
Michael Evans
Original Message:
Sent: 7/14/2021 1:25:00 AM
From: William Shull
Subject: RE: Another Baldwin F
Hi Steve,
Except for the last years of the American production, Baldwin hammers were not high tension hammers. They were closer to NY Steinway. They could be brought up with lacquer to the desired projection as needed.
Regards,
Bill
Bill Shull, RPT, M.Mus.
www.shullpiano.com
www.periodpiano.org
909 796-4226
Sent from my iPhone
Original Message:
Sent: 7/14/2021 12:10:00 AM
From: Steven Rosenthal
Subject: RE: Another Baldwin F
Bill, what would you say was the maker's intention?
------------------------------
Steven Rosenthal
Honolulu HI
808-521-7129
Original Message:
Sent: 07-13-2021 16:35
From: William Shull
Subject: Another Baldwin F
The last project F we did, built in 1954, the ratios required a light hammer, even after we moved the capstan forward. For me the best tonal match for the makers intention is Ronsen Bacon felt. Easily brought up, but not a fight to keep from blasting you out of the room. The owner/artist, who normally likes a high energy, high output piano (other piano is a Schimmel 9') is very pleased.
Regards,
Bill
Bill Shull, RPT, M.Mus.
www.shullpiano.com
www.periodpiano.org
909 796-4226
Sent from my iPhone
Original Message:
Sent: 7/13/2021 1:07:00 PM
From: Joel Weber
Subject: RE: Another Baldwin F
The room acoustics suggest piano tone could easily become bright, and if floors were wood - even more so.
My bias wonders if a trumpeter might not be conditioned to prefer brasher tone though...
I would try to get client to offer his thoughts: what do current hammers sound like to him, what does he wish his piano would sound like.
Original Message:
Sent: 7/13/2021 12:41:00 PM
From: Amy Baldinger
Subject: RE: Another Baldwin F
Thank you all for your responses so far. Very helpful.
Regarding the venue - it's in a living room, and not a very big one with lots of hard surfaces. Owner is a professional trumpet player and sometimes pianist who
frequently hosts house events with great pianists.
Michael Evans - love the videos and the details of the project!
------------------------------
Amy Baldinger
Vashon WA
206-459-7672
Original Message:
Sent: 07-13-2021 04:19
From: Phil Bondi
Subject: Another Baldwin F
Hi Amy. Hammer recommendation for his instrument: Ronsen Weikert followed closely by Abel Naturals. Wire: JD Grandt or Heller for wound wire w/Mapes IG for plain wire.
Original Message:
Sent: 7/12/2021 11:13:00 PM
From: Amy Baldinger
Subject: Another Baldwin F
Going to do some work on a Baldwin F soon - also from the 60s. What hammers would you recommend? From the other thread Renner blue points sound problematic. And recommendation for strings? I've mostly used Mapes in the past but I'm open to branching out. Thanks in advance for advice and any other Baldwin F opinions, anecdotes, information, etc.
------------------------------
Amy Baldinger
Vashon WA
------------------------------