Martin,
Yes! I see that. And they even admitted that it was their "third effort made to develop a forty-inch scale to be more musically balanced..." IOW "three strikes and you're out!" Interesting too that the sales director admitted that they didn't even get the strike point right prior to this one. (One still has to wonder if they hit it right on the F even).
This was the first one I had ever tuned (that I recall) and as I was going through it I said to myself: "What were they thinking? Who designed this thing?" Later i suggested to the owner that "perhaps" improvements could be made. This is why I posted this here, to try to determine if it is worth any effort, or better to just get a better piano.
Pwg
------------------------------
Peter Grey
Stratham NH
603-686-2395
pianodoctor57@gmail.com------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 10-05-2021 09:16
From: Martin Snow
Subject: Steinway Model F Vertical
Peter, in reviewing the Kehl and Kirkland "Official Guide to Steinway Pianos" and the 2 page specs. of the model F it was mildly amusing to read again that in 1967 after the final iteration of the F scaling was introduced replacing both the original 1939 Model 40 and the 1953 Model 100 that this "....new F scale is a triumph in modern piano technology...." Gosh I restrung only one of these plus probably Abel hammers in the 1990's for Marc Brown originator of the 'Arthur' children's book series , it was later sent to a specialized refinisher for a unique process finish in green and mottled black similar to oil and water droplets .
www.snowpianos.com
------------------------------
Martin Snow
South Burlington VT
617-543-1030
Original Message:
Sent: 10-05-2021 08:43
From: Karl Roeder
Subject: Steinway Model F Vertical
Mr. Grey,
I think I can boldly claim that I took the instrument from horrible to merely bad. It was at least not worse. Everyone needs to have a standard and that's the one I try to live up to. The set of Ronsen/Weikert hammers I installed probably made a bigger difference to the overall tone.
------------------------------
Karl Roeder
Pompano Beach FL
Original Message:
Sent: 10-05-2021 07:55
From: Peter Grey
Subject: Steinway Model F Vertical
Mr. Roeder,
Thank you. This is good to know in advance. It does sound like you did not make any substantial changes to the scale. How though did you feel about the end result? Better...no change...shoulder shrug?
Pwg
------------------------------
Peter Grey
Stratham NH
603-686-2395
pianodoctor57@gmail.com
Original Message:
Sent: 10-04-2021 19:56
From: Karl Roeder
Subject: Steinway Model F Vertical
Mr. Grey. I did re-string one of these 2 summers ago. The wound strings above the break are at a very high break percentage. Initially Pscale didn't want to even let me enter the dimensions. Mr. Parsons corrected that problem expeditiously but the scale was the problem not the software. If the board still has crown (it won't) rescaling, maybe with Paulello wire, might be a real improvement. Also be careful who you order the strings from as my set arrived 12 strings shy of complete.And, oh yeah, the keybed isn't coming off unless you're prepared to saw off the legs. Be ready to string it while reaching through. Best of luck.
------------------------------
Karl Roeder
Pompano Beach FL
Original Message:
Sent: 10-04-2021 18:49
From: Peter Grey
Subject: Steinway Model F Vertical
Steinway F Vertical:
Has anyone had the opportunity to restring and rescale (optimize) one of these bad boys? Seems like it is pretty heavily strung for such a small piano. I don't want to reinvent the wheel here if someone has already done it and can vouch for a significant improvement (or perhaps little to none).
Pwg
------------------------------
Peter Grey
Stratham NH
603-686-2395
pianodoctor57@gmail.com
------------------------------