Also posted this in the tuner/tech forum, but thought maybe someone here could help as well.

So one bass note on my RX-2 (D2 to be exact) has this higher-pitched ringing sound when played. Here are links to two recordings. The first one is just the note, and the second one is part of a song. Don't know how much you can hear from the recordings, but this note seems to stand out from the rest, and it's getting on my nerves!

Any advice?

http://www.mediafire.com/?mjty4l2nzwj

http://www.mediafire.com/?v0j1en1ytmw

Have you had a qualified piano technician to look at it?

String seating or hammer voicing might help. A last resort would be a new bass string, but I'm just guessing.

I wouldn't panic, I'm sure it can be fixed. Kawais are great pianos.

Take care,

Rick

When I clicked on the first link my virus software went crazy. If you don't have virus protection don't follow these links.

He took a quick look at it last tuning (a few months ago). It seemed better after it was tuned, but I think it's become more noticeable recently.

Were you able to hear what I'm talking about in the sound clips?

Don't know why the antivirus doesn't like the links. I just uploaded a few wav files to mediafire.com, which seems like a well-known site. Is there an easier way to post sound clips on here?

No Eric, I tried to download your sound files and I couldn't get them to play. My PC MusicMatch program acted like it was going to play the file, but it never did.

I was curious to hear what you were talking about.

I'm sure a really good tech can help you.

Rick

I clicked on the first link and there is a "Score Real Girls" pop up with lots of girls pictures. But I can hear both of the files. (I use a Mac.) The note definitely has buzz problem.

The site must use pop-up ads or something. No one mentioned scoring real girls to me

Anyway, I'll post again below (these are hosted by google docs). Thanks for your help. I'm glad I'm not the only one hearing this.

clip 1

clip 2

Box.net has an integrated player so we don't have to download the clips. Unfortunately, I believe files are limited to 10 views unless you pay for the 'pro' version.

Actually not true, thankfully. They are just limited in size of file. So maybe you should post there.

I'm glad I was wrong; I prefer Box all around for hosting smaller files.

I think many pianos have this, my Schimmel has many bass notes that when played FF have a sort of metallic ring. When playing you shouldn't hear it. I have heard it on many high end pianos when doing the note for not is this piano ok check

If it is too ringy the tech can voice it a bit....

Thought I would just bring this topic back to life instead of making a whole new thread...

Anyway, I just realized that Audacity can do a frequency analysis. I used my sound clip of D2 and got some interesting results. It appears that the loudest freq is right around F#4. Now I'm not an expert on this, but shouldn't the fundamental (D2) be the loudest sound? When I get home, I'm going to play an F#4 and see if it sounds like the high-pitched ringing I'm hearing in D2. I'll also try this with some other notes and see what kind of results I get.

Depends on the piano, but many smaller pianos do not have a terribly strong fundamental in the bass. That's one reason why 7' and larger pianos sound so good down low, because they do have a strong fundamental.

Eric,
In case you've not done this already, and as part of your discovery as to the root cause, mute one of the bi-chord strings of the offending note and see if that does not remediate the ringing, then mute the other and see if there is a difference, just in case.

Glen

F#4 is the 5th partial of D2.

It is entirely possible that F#4 is the fundamental frequency of the Longitudinal Mode of D2.

The result of Jim Ellis RPT, work, the short version, is that, under certain circumstances, energy from the transverse waves will feed into the Longitudinal modes.

Creating exactly what you are hearing.

"Longitudinal Modes in Piano Strings" by James F. Ellis RPT, is a very good read.
Available by calling the PTG Home Office

Seems to be the case. I measured B2 (which I like the sound of) and its fundamental wasn't the loudest either.



Yep, it seems to be there if either string is sounding.




Interesting, and thanks for the reference.