Customization of the AA at Piano Craft includes the following. The estimated time spent is 100 hours.

Monica,

Customization of the AA at Piano Craft includes the following. The estimated time spent is 100 hours.
* Individually tuned aliquots.
* Custom hammer weight
* Optimized hammer strike point
* Full action regulation - Multiple passes
* Action geometry analysis
* Create "Dynamic Response Action" with custom mass pattern
* Six tunings
* Voicing - Custom tone build
* Voicing - Mass load bridge
* Voicing - Voice soundboard ribs
* Hand-rub entire case

This is in addition to their regular dealer preparation of grand pianos which includes the following:
* "Key thumper" - They have their own machine that thumps all the keys for a hundred or more hours equating to a few months intensive use to seat and test all action parts. The intent is to get anything to break that's going to break in the shop not at home.
* Regulation: Phase 1 (12 hours)
- Bed key frame to key bed
- Lubricate key frame guide pins
- Polish capstans
- Set key dip at .390 on all keys
- Regulate end keys of each section completely
- Adjust hammer weight on remaining keys to match samples
- Escapement on remaining keys
- Drop on remaining keys
- Space hammers to string (square and travel as needed)
- Space repetitions to hammer shanks
- Space back checks with bending pliers
- Adjust jack to knuckle
- Adjust back checks
- Repetition springs
- Repetition lever height
- Readjust hammer height to samples
- Readjust hammer line slightly if needed for aftertouch
- Even out aftertouch on sharps with front rail punchings
- Retighten all action screws

Regulation: Phase 2 (8 hours)
- Adjust hammer height on remaining keys
- Escapement on remaining keys
- Drop on remaining keys
- Space hammers to strings
- Check spacing of repetitions to hammer shanks
- Space back checks with bending pliers
- Adjust jack to knuckle
- Adjust back checks
- Repetition springs
- Repetition lever height
- Readjust hammer height
- Reevaluate aftertouch on naturals, adjust slightly if needed
- Even out aftertouch on sharps by adding or removing front rail punchings
- Retighten all action screws
- Readjust back checks to 1-1/4" if geometry permits

Obviously, as a beginner, I don't know a lot of what this all means, nor will I likely have a full appreciation. However, Shaun and Keith are so enthusiastic about their pianos and what leaves their shop, that my level of confidence in the quality of the product is almost unbounded. We'll see how that pans out over the next couple years while I'm in Maryland. BTW, their after sale service includes multiple in home tunings and maintenance as part of the sale.

I will update as seems relevant.

Much of this list would be included with a very thorough prep, and some of which would be included with Stanwood-like action tweaking. However, the two items that are very unusual are "mass load bridge," and "voice soundboard ribs." I assume the former refers to screwing brass weights into the bridge from the underside of the board to change soundboard impedance, and the latter, modifying the stiffness of some ribs by adding or removing material, again to modify soundboard impedance. If Keith would like to comment, I think it would be very interesting.

I compared it to the Steingraeber on the floor and it was a good comparison; although, the Steingraeber won (what a glorious sound!!). But I couldn't afford the price. I also compared to an Estonia 190, an M&H B and an M&H BB. The AA won.

Rod, As I read from your original post, only the M&H AA received the special customized prep and both the Estonia and Steingraeber did NOT.



Now if already the Steingraeber won without this customized prep, the conclusion would be that WITH that customization it woukld be far superior.

And how would the Estonia compare if it also recieved that customization?

schwammerl.

I wonder whether one has to be a very advanced pianist(conservatory level) to hear and feel the differences between a good prep and one of these "super preps" in a given piano?

I am inclined to attribute any tehnical problems I have much more to my own weakneses than to the fact that my BB received what I think would be called a good prep as oppoosed to a super one? Same with tone...I feel like I am at least as responsible for the piano's tone as is the actual instrument.

Rod, As I read from your original post, only the M&H AA received the special customized prep and both the Estonia and Steingraeber did NOT.



Now if already the Steingraeber won without this customized prep, the conclusion would be that WITH that customization it woukld be far superior.

And how would the Estonia compare if it also recieved that customization?

schwammerl.

I was told that they figure about 100 hours of work in the customization and therefore, the customized price for the AA was about $4K above the base price that they ask. I assume the $4K is a set figure since 100 hours is 100 hours. In that case the relative increment (%) will depend on the base price.

Now, I couldn't agree more that the pianist is still responsible for tone production. However, if for instance you, as the pianist, want to play something in a very soft and controlled manner, and you have the technique to do it, and the piano just wont do it, well, then you have to play louder than you want. You are still responsible, and you may have to rethink your interpretation to accomodate a piano that wont respond the way you want it to, but it the piano worked better at a soft volume, you would be more accurately expressing your interpretation of that piece.

Great pianos respond well to this type of work.

Keith,

I think most people will agree that the REGULAR prep as described earlier here needs to be done by the dealer as even if the manufacturer preps the instruments very well, a lot might happen during transportation from factory to warehouse..to dealer which can alter these original excellent factory settings.

If I now look at the list of the CUSTOMIZED prep I would assume that a lot of this could already been done at the factory without this work being impeded by subsequent transports or environmental influences?

At the same time you say: and as the 3 pianos the OP mentioned [the M&H AA, Steingraeber 205, Estonia 190] IN THE SHOWROOM already had that customized prep [and will ultimately be sold to one or other customer, i.e. it is not a customized prep that was done on specific demands of a specific customer], why is there then no high end manufacturer offering pianos with this kind of dedicated preparation?

Or what potential do you see for these 3 mentioned brands as a % of customers opting for the customized instrument vs the standard prepped one?

schwammerl.

If our approach was attempted at a factory ( if they even were interested in doing it, which most factories are not ) it would slow production down so much as to probably put even smaller factories out of business.

The majority of the other piano buyers out there buy whatever piano is presented to them in the most compelling way, and they are generally happy enough as long as keys don’t stick, and things don’t buzz and rattle while they are playing.