Yamaha C 7
One of the trades FAVORITE models, for performance and recording.
Grand Piano Truck
If you have a performing Grand Piano in a flexible performance space, it needs to be moved on a proper grand piano truck. Dragging a three-legged grand on its little wheels torques the case and cast iron harp, and can disturbe tuning stability and action regulation SO MUCH as to make the piano almost unplayable!!
The heavy iron truck absorbs the bumps and twists, its larger rubber wheels won't harm your floors, and the piano will live longer and be much happier between tunings and adjustments. This is especially true of cheaper grands, lighter in their foundations. |
What Is Tuning Stability?
At first, tuning stability is what the tuner leaves behind. It is possible to adjust tuning pins to get the right pitch, but leave segments of the string with unresolved tensions, that may resolve as soon as the string is struck hard and loud!!
Between the singing portion of the string and the tuning pin are two segments also under great tension (from 120 lbs to 300 lbs each) If the tuner (from experience and training) has not kept these in mind during adjustment, they can slide infintesmally over their bearing points and change the pitch of the string. |
1500's Clavichord copy
This is a Clavichord facsimile (invented in the 1400's) made from a Zuckerman kit first created in the 1970's, but never assembled. I assembled it decades later!
Bach and Mozart loved the clavichord because it was SO QUIET you could play it in the next room and not wake anybody up!! AND it was TOUCH SENSITIVE unlike the Organ or Harpsichord, therefore EXPRESSIVE FROM THE FINGERTIP. Not until the invention of the PIANO around 1700 was expression in volume availble from your touch alone. |
Harpsichord
Harpsichord, purchased at Piano Technicians convention many years ago.
Single course of strings and only one keyboard. There is a built in option for a second set of strings and jacks which could augment is color and volume. This kit was assembled as a class project in the 1970's in a college in Pennsylvania.
The harpsichord creates its sound by plucking the metal strings. There is no expression in volume available from the fingers. |