STANWOOD TOUCH DESIGNStm for the grand piano
Pianists agree that piano actions vary widely in their characteristic
feel and in the
way they respond. Of course, regulation of the action and tone of the
instrument
have a significant effect on what the pianist experiences. But there
exist more basic
underlying elements in piano action design that no amount of regulation
or voicing
can change. This fact is most pronounced in pianos with unusually heavy
action
that "play like a truck".
Research and study of piano actions carried out by David C. Stanwood
has shed
a whole new light on the subject of piano action design and led to
the development
of Stanwood Touch Designs for the grand piano action.
(Stanwood & Co., RFD 340, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568; (508) 693-1583).
Stanwood's system has been known to improve even some of the finest
pianos, so
if your piano plays like a truck, the transformation is likely to be
miraculous.
The Stanwood Touch Design System is installed in the piano by modifying
the
pianos action parts. It is available in a variety of stock or custom
touch designs.
Each touch design is a special recipe which specifies for each note
the exact
proportions of hammer weight, hammer leverage, key balancing weight,
and
frictional resistance. Once calibrated to these rigid specifications,
the piano
takes on the expected characteristic feel, with an extremely consistent
response
from note to note.
Touch designs are chosen based on tonal projection needs and desired
characteristic feel. The higher hammer weight designs have a firmer
feel with
more powerful tonal projection, as required in concert halls. The lighter
hammer
weight designs have a lighter feel and give a lower tonal projection
appropriate
for smaller rooms and studios.
Stanwood says that the advantages of his touch designs include reducing,
or
in some cases stopping, repetitive stress injury due to inordinate
physical stress;
increasing the value of the piano; facilitating the purchase and sale
of pianos; and
generally improving pianistic ability and expression. Stanwood is currently
licensing, and training technicians around the country to install his
touch designs,
which have received strong endorsements from concert artists and technicians.
- Larry Fine