Pianotech

Hello, I was playing a Mendelssohn piece from "Songs Without Words" on my 1923 Knabe C this evening. I went to my Yamaha C5 and played the same thing and the "singing" quality lacking in the Yamaha was just striking. The Knabe is far superior for this. We've all seen the plaques inside of Knabes boasting about how they were the official piano of the Metropolitan Opera House. They said the Knabe sound was the closest piano sound to the human voice. I used to dismiss these statements as their gimmicky selling point, a statement too subjective to take seriously. But the more I play it, the more I think they were on to something. Besides the sustain, there is something about the onset that is different from any other piano and very conducive to pulling out a melody. The link below from YouTube seems to be a great example of the "Knabe sound." 

Does anyone know what I'm talking about? Any theories about what was unique about the Knabe that produced this sound?

Restauración piano Knabe 1921

Welcome to the adventure of maturing as a piano technician. I'm sure you will get the comedy routine of impedance mismatching that has no practical applicability, but i'll share a couple key differences.

Yamahas have thick panels, which are made of spruce. 

Knabes have thinner panels and were made out of adirondack spruce.

A lot of what you're hearing is the damping effect of "spongy"spruce.

Run your finger lightly across the surface of both, the knabe board give the opinion of it being a speaker. The yamaha does not.

The knabe soundboards that i have dissected were very precisely graded (tapered in patterns in key areas).

Yamaha boards are pretty much just thrown in there.

Knabes had light downbearing pressure, yamahas are generally heavy downbearing to the thick board.

-chris

Hello, I was playing a Mendelssohn piece from "Songs Without Words" on my 1923 Knabe C this evening. I went to my Yamaha C5 and played the same thing and the "singing" quality lacking in the Yamaha was just striking. The Knabe is far superior for this. We've all seen the plaques inside of Knabes boasting about how they were the official piano of the Metropolitan Opera House. They said the Knabe sound was the closest piano sound to the human voice. I used to dismiss these statements as their gimmicky selling point, a statement too subjective to take seriously. But the more I play it, the more I think they were on to something. Besides the sustain, there is something about the onset that is different from any other piano and very conducive to pulling out a melody. The link below from YouTube seems to be a great example of the "Knabe sound." 

Does anyone know what I'm talking about? Any theories about what was unique about the Knabe that produced this sound?

Restauración piano Knabe 1921

Chris,

Thanks for the feedback. I wasn't aware about them using red spruce, that's very interesting. I have Abel natural felt hammers in both pianos, the Knabe hammers being a little lighter, of course, so the differences are not so much due to hammers. In the YouTube video I posted, the rebuilder told me he used Ronsen Wurzen AA felt hammers. Either way, it's a very unique sound.

Do you know of any other piano makers using red spruce for soundboards?

Welcome to the adventure of maturing as a piano technician. I'm sure you will get the comedy routine of impedance mismatching that has no practical applicability, but i'll share a couple key differences.

Yamahas have thick panels, which are made of spruce. 

Knabes have thinner panels and were made out of adirondack spruce.

A lot of what you're hearing is the damping effect of "spongy"spruce.

Run your finger lightly across the surface of both, the knabe board give the opinion of it being a speaker. The yamaha does not.

The knabe soundboards that i have dissected were very precisely graded (tapered in patterns in key areas).

Yamaha boards are pretty much just thrown in there.

Knabes had light downbearing pressure, yamahas are generally heavy downbearing to the thick board.

-chris

Hello, I was playing a Mendelssohn piece from "Songs Without Words" on my 1923 Knabe C this evening. I went to my Yamaha C5 and played the same thing and the "singing" quality lacking in the Yamaha was just striking. The Knabe is far superior for this. We've all seen the plaques inside of Knabes boasting about how they were the official piano of the Metropolitan Opera House. They said the Knabe sound was the closest piano sound to the human voice. I used to dismiss these statements as their gimmicky selling point, a statement too subjective to take seriously. But the more I play it, the more I think they were on to something. Besides the sustain, there is something about the onset that is different from any other piano and very conducive to pulling out a melody. The link below from YouTube seems to be a great example of the "Knabe sound." 

Does anyone know what I'm talking about? Any theories about what was unique about the Knabe that produced this sound?

Restauración piano Knabe 1921

Hello, I was playing a Mendelssohn piece from "Songs Without Words" on my 1923 Knabe C this evening. I went to my Yamaha C5 and played the same thing and the "singing" quality lacking in the Yamaha was just striking. The Knabe is far superior for this. We've all seen the plaques inside of Knabes boasting about how they were the official piano of the Metropolitan Opera House. They said the Knabe sound was the closest piano sound to the human voice. I used to dismiss these statements as their gimmicky selling point, a statement too subjective to take seriously. But the more I play it, the more I think they were on to something. Besides the sustain, there is something about the onset that is different from any other piano and very conducive to pulling out a melody. The link below from YouTube seems to be a great example of the "Knabe sound." 

Does anyone know what I'm talking about? Any theories about what was unique about the Knabe that produced this sound?

Restauración piano Knabe 1921

Hello, I was playing a Mendelssohn piece from "Songs Without Words" on my 1923 Knabe C this evening. I went to my Yamaha C5 and played the same thing and the "singing" quality lacking in the Yamaha was just striking. The Knabe is far superior for this. We've all seen the plaques inside of Knabes boasting about how they were the official piano of the Metropolitan Opera House. They said the Knabe sound was the closest piano sound to the human voice. I used to dismiss these statements as their gimmicky selling point, a statement too subjective to take seriously. But the more I play it, the more I think they were on to something. Besides the sustain, there is something about the onset that is different from any other piano and very conducive to pulling out a melody. The link below from YouTube seems to be a great example of the "Knabe sound." 

Does anyone know what I'm talking about? Any theories about what was unique about the Knabe that produced this sound?

Restauración piano Knabe 1921

Knabes of this era were made in Baltimore MD (the Ravens stadium is currently where the old factory was located). Aeolian bought them in the early 1930's. I believe production stayed in Baltimore a while longer until the operations were moved to New York.

Hello, I was playing a Mendelssohn piece from "Songs Without Words" on my 1923 Knabe C this evening. I went to my Yamaha C5 and played the same thing and the "singing" quality lacking in the Yamaha was just striking. The Knabe is far superior for this. We've all seen the plaques inside of Knabes boasting about how they were the official piano of the Metropolitan Opera House. They said the Knabe sound was the closest piano sound to the human voice. I used to dismiss these statements as their gimmicky selling point, a statement too subjective to take seriously. But the more I play it, the more I think they were on to something. Besides the sustain, there is something about the onset that is different from any other piano and very conducive to pulling out a melody. The link below from YouTube seems to be a great example of the "Knabe sound." 

Does anyone know what I'm talking about? Any theories about what was unique about the Knabe that produced this sound?

Restauración piano Knabe 1921

Note, in the Youtube discussion that the piano was "rescaled by Paulello and using Ronsen hammers."

What sort of work was done on your piano?

Knabes of this era were made in Baltimore MD (the Ravens stadium is currently where the old factory was located). Aeolian bought them in the early 1930's. I believe production stayed in Baltimore a while longer until the operations were moved to New York.

Hello, I was playing a Mendelssohn piece from "Songs Without Words" on my 1923 Knabe C this evening. I went to my Yamaha C5 and played the same thing and the "singing" quality lacking in the Yamaha was just striking. The Knabe is far superior for this. We've all seen the plaques inside of Knabes boasting about how they were the official piano of the Metropolitan Opera House. They said the Knabe sound was the closest piano sound to the human voice. I used to dismiss these statements as their gimmicky selling point, a statement too subjective to take seriously. But the more I play it, the more I think they were on to something. Besides the sustain, there is something about the onset that is different from any other piano and very conducive to pulling out a melody. The link below from YouTube seems to be a great example of the "Knabe sound." 

Does anyone know what I'm talking about? Any theories about what was unique about the Knabe that produced this sound?

Restauración piano Knabe 1921

I rebuilt mine, original soundboard, hybrid stringing and rescaled, Abel natural felt hammers. Although hybrid stringing helped the tone of the low tenor, I'm talking about a general quality I hear in Knabe pianos. Here is the same model and similar year to mine- again, a similar sound (though I like mine better).

https://youtu.be/vhrnznBnLWo?si=KckNNSHn7AfUnfuD

------------------------------
Tim Foster RPT
New Oxford PA
(470) 231-6074

Original Message:
Sent: 04-14-2025 12:09
From: Ed Sutton
Subject: The Knabe sound

Note, in the Youtube discussion that the piano was "rescaled by Paulello and using Ronsen hammers."

What sort of work was done on your piano?

------------------------------
Ed Sutton
ed440@me.com
(980) 254-7413

Original Message:
Sent: 04-14-2025 07:36
From: Tim Foster
Subject: The Knabe sound

Knabes of this era were made in Baltimore MD (the Ravens stadium is currently where the old factory was located). Aeolian bought them in the early 1930's. I believe production stayed in Baltimore a while longer until the operations were moved to New York.

------------------------------
Tim Foster RPT
New Oxford PA
(470) 231-6074

Original Message:
Sent: 04-14-2025 07:31
From: Philip Jamison
Subject: The Knabe sound

Original Message:
Sent: 4/13/2025 7:48:00 PM
From: Tim Foster
Subject: The Knabe sound

Hello, I was playing a Mendelssohn piece from "Songs Without Words" on my 1923 Knabe C this evening. I went to my Yamaha C5 and played the same thing and the "singing" quality lacking in the Yamaha was just striking. The Knabe is far superior for this. We've all seen the plaques inside of Knabes boasting about how they were the official piano of the Metropolitan Opera House. They said the Knabe sound was the closest piano sound to the human voice. I used to dismiss these statements as their gimmicky selling point, a statement too subjective to take seriously. But the more I play it, the more I think they were on to something. Besides the sustain, there is something about the onset that is different from any other piano and very conducive to pulling out a melody. The link below from YouTube seems to be a great example of the "Knabe sound." 

Does anyone know what I'm talking about? Any theories about what was unique about the Knabe that produced this sound?

Restauración piano Knabe 1921

------------------------------
Tim Foster RPT
New Oxford PA
(470) 231-6074
------------------------------

I just made a quick recording of my piano. The mic is not wonderful and it doesn't quite capture what I'm hearing as I play, but it does capture the intensity of the melody.

Mendelssohn on Knabe C

------------------------------
Tim Foster RPT
New Oxford PA
(470) 231-6074

Original Message:
Sent: 04-14-2025 14:15
From: Tim Foster
Subject: The Knabe sound

I rebuilt mine, original soundboard, hybrid stringing and rescaled, Abel natural felt hammers. Although hybrid stringing helped the tone of the low tenor, I'm talking about a general quality I hear in Knabe pianos. Here is the same model and similar year to mine- again, a similar sound (though I like mine better).

https://youtu.be/vhrnznBnLWo?si=KckNNSHn7AfUnfuD

------------------------------
Tim Foster RPT
New Oxford PA
(470) 231-6074

Original Message:
Sent: 04-14-2025 12:09
From: Ed Sutton
Subject: The Knabe sound

Note, in the Youtube discussion that the piano was "rescaled by Paulello and using Ronsen hammers."

What sort of work was done on your piano?

------------------------------
Ed Sutton
ed440@me.com
(980) 254-7413

Original Message:
Sent: 04-14-2025 07:36
From: Tim Foster
Subject: The Knabe sound

Knabes of this era were made in Baltimore MD (the Ravens stadium is currently where the old factory was located). Aeolian bought them in the early 1930's. I believe production stayed in Baltimore a while longer until the operations were moved to New York.

------------------------------
Tim Foster RPT
New Oxford PA
(470) 231-6074

Original Message:
Sent: 04-14-2025 07:31
From: Philip Jamison
Subject: The Knabe sound

Original Message:
Sent: 4/13/2025 7:48:00 PM
From: Tim Foster
Subject: The Knabe sound

Hello, I was playing a Mendelssohn piece from "Songs Without Words" on my 1923 Knabe C this evening. I went to my Yamaha C5 and played the same thing and the "singing" quality lacking in the Yamaha was just striking. The Knabe is far superior for this. We've all seen the plaques inside of Knabes boasting about how they were the official piano of the Metropolitan Opera House. They said the Knabe sound was the closest piano sound to the human voice. I used to dismiss these statements as their gimmicky selling point, a statement too subjective to take seriously. But the more I play it, the more I think they were on to something. Besides the sustain, there is something about the onset that is different from any other piano and very conducive to pulling out a melody. The link below from YouTube seems to be a great example of the "Knabe sound." 

Does anyone know what I'm talking about? Any theories about what was unique about the Knabe that produced this sound?

Restauración piano Knabe 1921

------------------------------
Tim Foster RPT
New Oxford PA
(470) 231-6074
------------------------------

I have long admired the unique shape of original Knabe hammers. They have (from my observation) the LEAST amount of wood in the tail of any hammer around. Many of us learned years ago from Wally Brooks that it's important to reduce the mass BEHIND the shank as it helps to get the hammer away from the strings faster, thus doing less "damping". Knabe (and a few others) clearly was aware of this phenomenon and incorporated it into their design.

Also, if I'm not mistaken, Steinway used Adirondack spruce back then in their boards...maybe up to the 40's...? Any confirmation of that? It does make a difference. 

Edit: My standing order at Ronsen is to enlarge the cove as much as possible to reduce mass. He always does a nice job.

Peter Grey Piano Doctor 

------------------------------
Peter Grey
Stratham NH
(603) 686-2395
pianodoctor57@gmail.com
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 04-14-2025 23:01
From: Tim Foster
Subject: The Knabe sound

I just made a quick recording of my piano. The mic is not wonderful and it doesn't quite capture what I'm hearing as I play, but it does capture the intensity of the melody.

Mendelssohn on Knabe C

------------------------------
Tim Foster RPT
New Oxford PA
(470) 231-6074

Original Message:
Sent: 04-14-2025 14:15
From: Tim Foster
Subject: The Knabe sound

I rebuilt mine, original soundboard, hybrid stringing and rescaled, Abel natural felt hammers. Although hybrid stringing helped the tone of the low tenor, I'm talking about a general quality I hear in Knabe pianos. Here is the same model and similar year to mine- again, a similar sound (though I like mine better).

https://youtu.be/vhrnznBnLWo?si=KckNNSHn7AfUnfuD

------------------------------
Tim Foster RPT
New Oxford PA
(470) 231-6074

Original Message:
Sent: 04-14-2025 12:09
From: Ed Sutton
Subject: The Knabe sound

Note, in the Youtube discussion that the piano was "rescaled by Paulello and using Ronsen hammers."

What sort of work was done on your piano?

------------------------------
Ed Sutton
ed440@me.com
(980) 254-7413

Original Message:
Sent: 04-14-2025 07:36
From: Tim Foster
Subject: The Knabe sound

Knabes of this era were made in Baltimore MD (the Ravens stadium is currently where the old factory was located). Aeolian bought them in the early 1930's. I believe production stayed in Baltimore a while longer until the operations were moved to New York.

------------------------------
Tim Foster RPT
New Oxford PA
(470) 231-6074

Original Message:
Sent: 04-14-2025 07:31
From: Philip Jamison
Subject: The Knabe sound

Original Message:
Sent: 4/13/2025 7:48:00 PM
From: Tim Foster
Subject: The Knabe sound

Hello, I was playing a Mendelssohn piece from "Songs Without Words" on my 1923 Knabe C this evening. I went to my Yamaha C5 and played the same thing and the "singing" quality lacking in the Yamaha was just striking. The Knabe is far superior for this. We've all seen the plaques inside of Knabes boasting about how they were the official piano of the Metropolitan Opera House. They said the Knabe sound was the closest piano sound to the human voice. I used to dismiss these statements as their gimmicky selling point, a statement too subjective to take seriously. But the more I play it, the more I think they were on to something. Besides the sustain, there is something about the onset that is different from any other piano and very conducive to pulling out a melody. The link below from YouTube seems to be a great example of the "Knabe sound." 

Does anyone know what I'm talking about? Any theories about what was unique about the Knabe that produced this sound?

Restauración piano Knabe 1921

------------------------------
Tim Foster RPT
New Oxford PA
(470) 231-6074
------------------------------

I have long admired the unique shape of original Knabe hammers. They have (from my observation) the LEAST amount of wood in the tail of any hammer around. Many of us learned years ago from Wally Brooks that it's important to reduce the mass BEHIND the shank as it helps to get the hammer away from the strings faster, thus doing less "damping". Knabe (and a few others) clearly was aware of this phenomenon and incorporated it into their design.

Also, if I'm not mistaken, Steinway used Adirondack spruce back then in their boards...maybe up to the 40's...? Any confirmation of that? It does make a difference. 

Edit: My standing order at Ronsen is to enlarge the cove as much as possible to reduce mass. He always does a nice job.

Peter Grey Piano Doctor 

------------------------------
Peter Grey
Stratham NH
(603) 686-2395
pianodoctor57@gmail.com

Original Message:
Sent: 04-14-2025 23:01
From: Tim Foster
Subject: The Knabe sound

I just made a quick recording of my piano. The mic is not wonderful and it doesn't quite capture what I'm hearing as I play, but it does capture the intensity of the melody.

Mendelssohn on Knabe C

------------------------------
Tim Foster RPT
New Oxford PA
(470) 231-6074

Original Message:
Sent: 04-14-2025 14:15
From: Tim Foster
Subject: The Knabe sound

I rebuilt mine, original soundboard, hybrid stringing and rescaled, Abel natural felt hammers. Although hybrid stringing helped the tone of the low tenor, I'm talking about a general quality I hear in Knabe pianos. Here is the same model and similar year to mine- again, a similar sound (though I like mine better).

https://youtu.be/vhrnznBnLWo?si=KckNNSHn7AfUnfuD

------------------------------
Tim Foster RPT
New Oxford PA
(470) 231-6074

Original Message:
Sent: 04-14-2025 12:09
From: Ed Sutton
Subject: The Knabe sound

Note, in the Youtube discussion that the piano was "rescaled by Paulello and using Ronsen hammers."

What sort of work was done on your piano?

------------------------------
Ed Sutton
ed440@me.com
(980) 254-7413

Original Message:
Sent: 04-14-2025 07:36
From: Tim Foster
Subject: The Knabe sound

Knabes of this era were made in Baltimore MD (the Ravens stadium is currently where the old factory was located). Aeolian bought them in the early 1930's. I believe production stayed in Baltimore a while longer until the operations were moved to New York.

------------------------------
Tim Foster RPT
New Oxford PA
(470) 231-6074

Original Message:
Sent: 04-14-2025 07:31
From: Philip Jamison
Subject: The Knabe sound

Original Message:
Sent: 4/13/2025 7:48:00 PM
From: Tim Foster
Subject: The Knabe sound

Hello, I was playing a Mendelssohn piece from "Songs Without Words" on my 1923 Knabe C this evening. I went to my Yamaha C5 and played the same thing and the "singing" quality lacking in the Yamaha was just striking. The Knabe is far superior for this. We've all seen the plaques inside of Knabes boasting about how they were the official piano of the Metropolitan Opera House. They said the Knabe sound was the closest piano sound to the human voice. I used to dismiss these statements as their gimmicky selling point, a statement too subjective to take seriously. But the more I play it, the more I think they were on to something. Besides the sustain, there is something about the onset that is different from any other piano and very conducive to pulling out a melody. The link below from YouTube seems to be a great example of the "Knabe sound." 

Does anyone know what I'm talking about? Any theories about what was unique about the Knabe that produced this sound?

Restauración piano Knabe 1921

------------------------------
Tim Foster RPT
New Oxford PA
(470) 231-6074
------------------------------

Hello David,

While I agree that the tuning both resonates incredibly well and brings out the singing characteristics in quality pianos generally, I'm referring to a particular "Knabe tone" that I hear regardless of tuning. It's so hard to describe, but it seems broader than the characteristic Steinway tone, but still a distinctly "American" piano sound. It also seems to have a longer "attack" (onset) than others pianos. The tenor and mid range have a cello quality, which I do believe the Paulello wire helps with as well, but type 0 was only used from A2-G3, so I know that's not affecting the G#3-E5 where I hear this quality very prominently. 

I have long admired the unique shape of original Knabe hammers. They have (from my observation) the LEAST amount of wood in the tail of any hammer around. Many of us learned years ago from Wally Brooks that it's important to reduce the mass BEHIND the shank as it helps to get the hammer away from the strings faster, thus doing less "damping". Knabe (and a few others) clearly was aware of this phenomenon and incorporated it into their design.

Also, if I'm not mistaken, Steinway used Adirondack spruce back then in their boards...maybe up to the 40's...? Any confirmation of that? It does make a difference. 

Edit: My standing order at Ronsen is to enlarge the cove as much as possible to reduce mass. He always does a nice job.

Peter Grey Piano Doctor 

------------------------------
Peter Grey
Stratham NH
(603) 686-2395
pianodoctor57@gmail.com

Original Message:
Sent: 04-14-2025 23:01
From: Tim Foster
Subject: The Knabe sound

I just made a quick recording of my piano. The mic is not wonderful and it doesn't quite capture what I'm hearing as I play, but it does capture the intensity of the melody.

Mendelssohn on Knabe C

------------------------------
Tim Foster RPT
New Oxford PA
(470) 231-6074

Original Message:
Sent: 04-14-2025 14:15
From: Tim Foster
Subject: The Knabe sound

I rebuilt mine, original soundboard, hybrid stringing and rescaled, Abel natural felt hammers. Although hybrid stringing helped the tone of the low tenor, I'm talking about a general quality I hear in Knabe pianos. Here is the same model and similar year to mine- again, a similar sound (though I like mine better).

https://youtu.be/vhrnznBnLWo?si=KckNNSHn7AfUnfuD

------------------------------
Tim Foster RPT
New Oxford PA
(470) 231-6074

Original Message:
Sent: 04-14-2025 12:09
From: Ed Sutton
Subject: The Knabe sound

Note, in the Youtube discussion that the piano was "rescaled by Paulello and using Ronsen hammers."

What sort of work was done on your piano?

------------------------------
Ed Sutton
ed440@me.com
(980) 254-7413

Original Message:
Sent: 04-14-2025 07:36
From: Tim Foster
Subject: The Knabe sound

Knabes of this era were made in Baltimore MD (the Ravens stadium is currently where the old factory was located). Aeolian bought them in the early 1930's. I believe production stayed in Baltimore a while longer until the operations were moved to New York.

------------------------------
Tim Foster RPT
New Oxford PA
(470) 231-6074

Original Message:
Sent: 04-14-2025 07:31
From: Philip Jamison
Subject: The Knabe sound

Original Message:
Sent: 4/13/2025 7:48:00 PM
From: Tim Foster
Subject: The Knabe sound

Hello, I was playing a Mendelssohn piece from "Songs Without Words" on my 1923 Knabe C this evening. I went to my Yamaha C5 and played the same thing and the "singing" quality lacking in the Yamaha was just striking. The Knabe is far superior for this. We've all seen the plaques inside of Knabes boasting about how they were the official piano of the Metropolitan Opera House. They said the Knabe sound was the closest piano sound to the human voice. I used to dismiss these statements as their gimmicky selling point, a statement too subjective to take seriously. But the more I play it, the more I think they were on to something. Besides the sustain, there is something about the onset that is different from any other piano and very conducive to pulling out a melody. The link below from YouTube seems to be a great example of the "Knabe sound." 

Does anyone know what I'm talking about? Any theories about what was unique about the Knabe that produced this sound?

Restauración piano Knabe 1921

------------------------------
Tim Foster RPT
New Oxford PA
(470) 231-6074
------------------------------

Back in the day...the Big Five: Steinway, Baldwin, M&H, Chickering, Knabe...all had their own distinctive sound such that one could tell without looking what the brand was. 

Peter Grey Piano Doctor 

Hello David,

While I agree that the tuning both resonates incredibly well and brings out the singing characteristics in quality pianos generally, I'm referring to a particular "Knabe tone" that I hear regardless of tuning. It's so hard to describe, but it seems broader than the characteristic Steinway tone, but still a distinctly "American" piano sound. It also seems to have a longer "attack" (onset) than others pianos. The tenor and mid range have a cello quality, which I do believe the Paulello wire helps with as well, but type 0 was only used from A2-G3, so I know that's not affecting the G#3-E5 where I hear this quality very prominently. 

I have long admired the unique shape of original Knabe hammers. They have (from my observation) the LEAST amount of wood in the tail of any hammer around. Many of us learned years ago from Wally Brooks that it's important to reduce the mass BEHIND the shank as it helps to get the hammer away from the strings faster, thus doing less "damping". Knabe (and a few others) clearly was aware of this phenomenon and incorporated it into their design.

Also, if I'm not mistaken, Steinway used Adirondack spruce back then in their boards...maybe up to the 40's...? Any confirmation of that? It does make a difference. 

Edit: My standing order at Ronsen is to enlarge the cove as much as possible to reduce mass. He always does a nice job.

Peter Grey Piano Doctor 

------------------------------
Peter Grey
Stratham NH
(603) 686-2395
pianodoctor57@gmail.com

Original Message:
Sent: 04-14-2025 23:01
From: Tim Foster
Subject: The Knabe sound

I just made a quick recording of my piano. The mic is not wonderful and it doesn't quite capture what I'm hearing as I play, but it does capture the intensity of the melody.

Mendelssohn on Knabe C

------------------------------
Tim Foster RPT
New Oxford PA
(470) 231-6074

Original Message:
Sent: 04-14-2025 14:15
From: Tim Foster
Subject: The Knabe sound

I rebuilt mine, original soundboard, hybrid stringing and rescaled, Abel natural felt hammers. Although hybrid stringing helped the tone of the low tenor, I'm talking about a general quality I hear in Knabe pianos. Here is the same model and similar year to mine- again, a similar sound (though I like mine better).

https://youtu.be/vhrnznBnLWo?si=KckNNSHn7AfUnfuD

------------------------------
Tim Foster RPT
New Oxford PA
(470) 231-6074

Original Message:
Sent: 04-14-2025 12:09
From: Ed Sutton
Subject: The Knabe sound

Note, in the Youtube discussion that the piano was "rescaled by Paulello and using Ronsen hammers."

What sort of work was done on your piano?

------------------------------
Ed Sutton
ed440@me.com
(980) 254-7413

Original Message:
Sent: 04-14-2025 07:36
From: Tim Foster
Subject: The Knabe sound

Knabes of this era were made in Baltimore MD (the Ravens stadium is currently where the old factory was located). Aeolian bought them in the early 1930's. I believe production stayed in Baltimore a while longer until the operations were moved to New York.

------------------------------
Tim Foster RPT
New Oxford PA
(470) 231-6074

Original Message:
Sent: 04-14-2025 07:31
From: Philip Jamison
Subject: The Knabe sound

Original Message:
Sent: 4/13/2025 7:48:00 PM
From: Tim Foster
Subject: The Knabe sound

Hello, I was playing a Mendelssohn piece from "Songs Without Words" on my 1923 Knabe C this evening. I went to my Yamaha C5 and played the same thing and the "singing" quality lacking in the Yamaha was just striking. The Knabe is far superior for this. We've all seen the plaques inside of Knabes boasting about how they were the official piano of the Metropolitan Opera House. They said the Knabe sound was the closest piano sound to the human voice. I used to dismiss these statements as their gimmicky selling point, a statement too subjective to take seriously. But the more I play it, the more I think they were on to something. Besides the sustain, there is something about the onset that is different from any other piano and very conducive to pulling out a melody. The link below from YouTube seems to be a great example of the "Knabe sound." 

Does anyone know what I'm talking about? Any theories about what was unique about the Knabe that produced this sound?

Restauración piano Knabe 1921

------------------------------
Tim Foster RPT
New Oxford PA
(470) 231-6074
------------------------------

I have restored an old Knabe that was made in 1903. It is 6'5" long. I also noticed a difference in the tone quality of that piano. I currently have a 9' Knabe that was made in 1915 that is in my shop to be rebuilt. I have included a picture of the duplex section of the 6'5" piano here. I believe that the difference in tone is due to the extra duplex section of wire close to the tuning pin fields. Both pianos have this design.

Back in the day...the Big Five: Steinway, Baldwin, M&H, Chickering, Knabe...all had their own distinctive sound such that one could tell without looking what the brand was. 

Peter Grey Piano Doctor 

Hello David,

While I agree that the tuning both resonates incredibly well and brings out the singing characteristics in quality pianos generally, I'm referring to a particular "Knabe tone" that I hear regardless of tuning. It's so hard to describe, but it seems broader than the characteristic Steinway tone, but still a distinctly "American" piano sound. It also seems to have a longer "attack" (onset) than others pianos. The tenor and mid range have a cello quality, which I do believe the Paulello wire helps with as well, but type 0 was only used from A2-G3, so I know that's not affecting the G#3-E5 where I hear this quality very prominently. 

I have long admired the unique shape of original Knabe hammers. They have (from my observation) the LEAST amount of wood in the tail of any hammer around. Many of us learned years ago from Wally Brooks that it's important to reduce the mass BEHIND the shank as it helps to get the hammer away from the strings faster, thus doing less "damping". Knabe (and a few others) clearly was aware of this phenomenon and incorporated it into their design.

Also, if I'm not mistaken, Steinway used Adirondack spruce back then in their boards...maybe up to the 40's...? Any confirmation of that? It does make a difference. 

Edit: My standing order at Ronsen is to enlarge the cove as much as possible to reduce mass. He always does a nice job.

Peter Grey Piano Doctor 

------------------------------
Peter Grey
Stratham NH
(603) 686-2395
pianodoctor57@gmail.com

Original Message:
Sent: 04-14-2025 23:01
From: Tim Foster
Subject: The Knabe sound

I just made a quick recording of my piano. The mic is not wonderful and it doesn't quite capture what I'm hearing as I play, but it does capture the intensity of the melody.

Mendelssohn on Knabe C

------------------------------
Tim Foster RPT
New Oxford PA
(470) 231-6074

Original Message:
Sent: 04-14-2025 14:15
From: Tim Foster
Subject: The Knabe sound

I rebuilt mine, original soundboard, hybrid stringing and rescaled, Abel natural felt hammers. Although hybrid stringing helped the tone of the low tenor, I'm talking about a general quality I hear in Knabe pianos. Here is the same model and similar year to mine- again, a similar sound (though I like mine better).

https://youtu.be/vhrnznBnLWo?si=KckNNSHn7AfUnfuD

------------------------------
Tim Foster RPT
New Oxford PA
(470) 231-6074

Original Message:
Sent: 04-14-2025 12:09
From: Ed Sutton
Subject: The Knabe sound

Note, in the Youtube discussion that the piano was "rescaled by Paulello and using Ronsen hammers."

What sort of work was done on your piano?

------------------------------
Ed Sutton
ed440@me.com
(980) 254-7413

Original Message:
Sent: 04-14-2025 07:36
From: Tim Foster
Subject: The Knabe sound

Knabes of this era were made in Baltimore MD (the Ravens stadium is currently where the old factory was located). Aeolian bought them in the early 1930's. I believe production stayed in Baltimore a while longer until the operations were moved to New York.

------------------------------
Tim Foster RPT
New Oxford PA
(470) 231-6074

Original Message:
Sent: 04-14-2025 07:31
From: Philip Jamison
Subject: The Knabe sound

Original Message:
Sent: 4/13/2025 7:48:00 PM
From: Tim Foster
Subject: The Knabe sound

Hello, I was playing a Mendelssohn piece from "Songs Without Words" on my 1923 Knabe C this evening. I went to my Yamaha C5 and played the same thing and the "singing" quality lacking in the Yamaha was just striking. The Knabe is far superior for this. We've all seen the plaques inside of Knabes boasting about how they were the official piano of the Metropolitan Opera House. They said the Knabe sound was the closest piano sound to the human voice. I used to dismiss these statements as their gimmicky selling point, a statement too subjective to take seriously. But the more I play it, the more I think they were on to something. Besides the sustain, there is something about the onset that is different from any other piano and very conducive to pulling out a melody. The link below from YouTube seems to be a great example of the "Knabe sound." 

Does anyone know what I'm talking about? Any theories about what was unique about the Knabe that produced this sound?

Restauración piano Knabe 1921

------------------------------
Tim Foster RPT
New Oxford PA
(470) 231-6074
------------------------------

I'm not seeing an extra duplex? Certainly a felt strip kills that idea.

-chris

I have restored an old Knabe that was made in 1903. It is 6'5" long. I also noticed a difference in the tone quality of that piano. I currently have a 9' Knabe that was made in 1915 that is in my shop to be rebuilt. I have included a picture of the duplex section of the 6'5" piano here. I believe that the difference in tone is due to the extra duplex section of wire close to the tuning pin fields. Both pianos have this design.

Back in the day...the Big Five: Steinway, Baldwin, M&H, Chickering, Knabe...all had their own distinctive sound such that one could tell without looking what the brand was. 

Peter Grey Piano Doctor 

Hello David,

While I agree that the tuning both resonates incredibly well and brings out the singing characteristics in quality pianos generally, I'm referring to a particular "Knabe tone" that I hear regardless of tuning. It's so hard to describe, but it seems broader than the characteristic Steinway tone, but still a distinctly "American" piano sound. It also seems to have a longer "attack" (onset) than others pianos. The tenor and mid range have a cello quality, which I do believe the Paulello wire helps with as well, but type 0 was only used from A2-G3, so I know that's not affecting the G#3-E5 where I hear this quality very prominently. 

I have long admired the unique shape of original Knabe hammers. They have (from my observation) the LEAST amount of wood in the tail of any hammer around. Many of us learned years ago from Wally Brooks that it's important to reduce the mass BEHIND the shank as it helps to get the hammer away from the strings faster, thus doing less "damping". Knabe (and a few others) clearly was aware of this phenomenon and incorporated it into their design.

Also, if I'm not mistaken, Steinway used Adirondack spruce back then in their boards...maybe up to the 40's...? Any confirmation of that? It does make a difference. 

Edit: My standing order at Ronsen is to enlarge the cove as much as possible to reduce mass. He always does a nice job.

Peter Grey Piano Doctor 

------------------------------
Peter Grey
Stratham NH
(603) 686-2395
pianodoctor57@gmail.com

Original Message:
Sent: 04-14-2025 23:01
From: Tim Foster
Subject: The Knabe sound

I just made a quick recording of my piano. The mic is not wonderful and it doesn't quite capture what I'm hearing as I play, but it does capture the intensity of the melody.

Mendelssohn on Knabe C

------------------------------
Tim Foster RPT
New Oxford PA
(470) 231-6074

Original Message:
Sent: 04-14-2025 14:15
From: Tim Foster
Subject: The Knabe sound

I rebuilt mine, original soundboard, hybrid stringing and rescaled, Abel natural felt hammers. Although hybrid stringing helped the tone of the low tenor, I'm talking about a general quality I hear in Knabe pianos. Here is the same model and similar year to mine- again, a similar sound (though I like mine better).

https://youtu.be/vhrnznBnLWo?si=KckNNSHn7AfUnfuD

------------------------------
Tim Foster RPT
New Oxford PA
(470) 231-6074

Original Message:
Sent: 04-14-2025 12:09
From: Ed Sutton
Subject: The Knabe sound

Note, in the Youtube discussion that the piano was "rescaled by Paulello and using Ronsen hammers."

What sort of work was done on your piano?

------------------------------
Ed Sutton
ed440@me.com
(980) 254-7413

Original Message:
Sent: 04-14-2025 07:36
From: Tim Foster
Subject: The Knabe sound

Knabes of this era were made in Baltimore MD (the Ravens stadium is currently where the old factory was located). Aeolian bought them in the early 1930's. I believe production stayed in Baltimore a while longer until the operations were moved to New York.

------------------------------
Tim Foster RPT
New Oxford PA
(470) 231-6074

Original Message:
Sent: 04-14-2025 07:31
From: Philip Jamison
Subject: The Knabe sound

Original Message:
Sent: 4/13/2025 7:48:00 PM
From: Tim Foster
Subject: The Knabe sound

Hello, I was playing a Mendelssohn piece from "Songs Without Words" on my 1923 Knabe C this evening. I went to my Yamaha C5 and played the same thing and the "singing" quality lacking in the Yamaha was just striking. The Knabe is far superior for this. We've all seen the plaques inside of Knabes boasting about how they were the official piano of the Metropolitan Opera House. They said the Knabe sound was the closest piano sound to the human voice. I used to dismiss these statements as their gimmicky selling point, a statement too subjective to take seriously. But the more I play it, the more I think they were on to something. Besides the sustain, there is something about the onset that is different from any other piano and very conducive to pulling out a melody. The link below from YouTube seems to be a great example of the "Knabe sound." 

Does anyone know what I'm talking about? Any theories about what was unique about the Knabe that produced this sound?

Restauración piano Knabe 1921

------------------------------
Tim Foster RPT
New Oxford PA
(470) 231-6074
------------------------------