Yes I did in fact add some weight to the hammershank on the apparent problem child top note of the bass, and as you suggested it provided an additional boost in the overall performance. I agree with the "sum of the parts" point of view.
Additionally I sent a note to Gregor Heller on the matter and he assured me that improvement can be made in that scale (not really a big surprise) 😉 .
The owner has decided to move ahead and put the piano back in the best possible shape so I have started ripping it all apart in the usual manner. My inclination is to complete the restring before doing much of anything on the action simply to see how much change is due to that vs how much the action puts into it.
Original Message:
Sent: 02-18-2024 12:36
From: James Kelly
Subject: Steinway "40" basement scale
Keep us posted since it is useful to know what you did that worked and didn't work. One guideline I have used is that the whole is the sum of the parts. This was an extremely productive approach when I worked on a very noisy C7 action that had been in high humidity and neglected for years. I still would try some hammer swapping with neighboring hammers that have more volume as well as checking the pinning on the hammers and whips
------------------------------
James Kelly
Owner- Fur Elise Piano Service
Pawleys Island SC
(843) 325-4357
Original Message:
Sent: 02-18-2024 07:03
From: Peter Grey
Subject: Steinway "40" basement scale
Update:
So the bridge is certainly tight to the board. Therefore I decided to try alternatives. I added a riblet to the low tenor part of that bridge to try to mitigate some if it's excessive output. It helped to a small degree in volume and at the same time Improved its sustain. Then I retried mass loading of the top of the bass bridge (slightly different tactic) and that proved to be VERY helpful. Got a nice boost there which shows me that there is potential to even this little gremlin out. I suspect a combination of attacks will be the solution.
Peter Grey Piano Doctor
------------------------------
Peter Grey
Stratham NH
(603) 686-2395
pianodoctor57@gmail.com
Original Message:
Sent: 02-17-2024 19:03
From: Peter Grey
Subject: Steinway "40" basement scale
When I get back in the shop I'm going to look very closely at the bridge/soundboard joint.
Peter Grey Piano Doctor
------------------------------
Peter Grey
Stratham NH
(603) 686-2395
pianodoctor57@gmail.com
Original Message:
Sent: 02-17-2024 14:15
From: Peter Grey
Subject: Steinway "40" basement scale
Steve,
Good idea. Thx
Peter Grey Piano Doctor
------------------------------
Peter Grey
Stratham NH
(603) 686-2395
pianodoctor57@gmail.com
Original Message:
Sent: 02-17-2024 14:01
From: Steven Rosenthal
Subject: Steinway "40" basement scale
Peter, I couldn't find anything recent about model 40, there was a conversation about 15 years ago but they were talking about the termination at the top of the piano.
You might ask JD Grandt, he keeps really good records and might know of a rescale.
------------------------------
Steven Rosenthal RPT
Honolulu HI
(808) 521-7129
Original Message:
Sent: 02-17-2024 13:15
From: Peter Grey
Subject: Steinway "40" basement scale
That is on the docket, hammers that is.
BTW I just noticed that my title got changed to "basement" scale... 😉 don't know how that happened
Steve, anything you can dig up would be helpful. Just don't waste a lot of time trying.
Peter Grey Piano Doctor
------------------------------
Peter Grey
Stratham NH
(603) 686-2395
pianodoctor57@gmail.com
Original Message:
Sent: 02-17-2024 11:26
From: James Kelly
Subject: Steinway "40" basement scale
I would check the condition of the hammer felt to determine if the hammers where over needled . A piano here in a church had been overvoiced with no power . Try interchanging a few hammers
------------------------------
James Kelly
Owner- Fur Elise Piano Service
Pawleys Island SC
(843) 325-4357
Original Message:
Sent: 02-17-2024 10:14
From: Peter Grey
Subject: Steinway "40" basement scale
James,
I have only made a cursory examination of the bridge/board joint but it does in fact LOOK quite good. I'll check that further of course. Twisting both strings of the top bichord (already still had at least 1/2 turn in them and I added 1/2 more) "improved" the tone slightly (subjective), the sustain moderately (also somewhat subjective), but volume did not improve in the slightest.
I filed and mated the hammers top bass and bottom tenor resulting in essentially a similar tonal improvement in both, but still the volume difference is very dramatic. I tried a little extra mass loading on the bass bridge to no effect. I plan to try a riblet but have yet to do so.
I was hoping that someone else might have had a similar situation, analyzed the scale already, found an obvious flaw, and fixed the problem so I could confidently recommend an alteration/upgrade. I've had it happen once before when I determined (simply by sound and gut) that bass strings needed replacement, only to end up with ZERO improvement. Sounded exactly as it had before...bummer. Therefore if it is really just a quirk of this design (no I have not yet checked downbearing), then I see little benefit in suggesting string replacement. But if nobody has already tackled this then I'd have to send the string data to my maker and let him analyze it. Then I'm nearly committed, if you know what I mean.
Peter Grey Piano Doctor
------------------------------
Peter Grey
Stratham NH
(603) 686-2395
pianodoctor57@gmail.com
Original Message:
Sent: 02-17-2024 08:30
From: James Kelly
Subject: Steinway "40" basement scale
Have you checked the bridge to soundboard glue joint in that area ? quick test by pushing down on the bridge with a screwdriver and playing the notes. String seating at the bridge pins and hitch pin as well as overall condition of the wound string. Do they improve by twisting ?
------------------------------
James Kelly
Owner- Fur Elise Piano Service
Pawleys Island SC
(843) 325-4357
Original Message:
Sent: 02-17-2024 07:28
From: Peter Grey
Subject: Steinway "40" basement scale
Has anyone here made the effort to rescale the Steinway "40"? I have one here that the owner is interested in seriously improving. A significant problem seems to be at the top of the bass, with a serious drop in volume crossing from the tenor into the bass. It gradually picks up as you descend though.
Is this in fact a scaling issue, and has anyone else fixed it successfully? Mechanically everything else seems fine (just old), much of which is likely to be upgraded. The serial is 305xxx. I don't want to recommend restringing unless this problem can be successfully addressed. Normally I wouldn't even bother but there is a degree of emotional attachment involved.
Peter Grey Piano Doctor
------------------------------
Peter Grey
Stratham NH
(603) 686-2395
pianodoctor57@gmail.com
------------------------------