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Andy, yes, both the Youtube video and box.net recording were recorded with the lid on the short stick.

Here is another example, but this time the lid is in the full position, however, for some reason, the Zoom H4 decided to add some strange high-pitched sound in the background. Never the less, you can hear the difference in the video and to some degree in the recording......a more full and open sound, and the treble rings more.

"There's A Small Hotel" in EBVT III http://www.youtube.com/user/AmpicoGPM#p/a/u/0/YJCikPQH5GE

"There's A Small Hotel" in EBVT III http://www.box.net/shared/46fznxgqjs

This is an extremely rare Ampico roll, issued in the summer of 1936. Ampico roll # 215791

Yes, GP! I thought it sounded less bright at half-stick, but less full is the better description! The sound of "There's A Small Hotel" is beautiful!

I am at the very, very, very beginning stages of refurbishing an old Haddorff 56" upright. Bill finally got to start fiddling with it two weeks ago. He replaced some broken butt plates. He tuned it (as best he could, given it's condition!...). He showed me how to replace the missing keytops and clean the bass strings, which I did. When I finally got it back together, I made a couple of recordings.

Beware: there are many broken butt plates, so you'll hear some clacking. Also, there is a crack in the bridge in the D6 area, so it won't tune there until that's repaired. This piano is in rough shape, but I think you can hear the potential. I am going to use the sound of your Mason & Hamlin as my standard! But still, here is my Haddorff in EBVT III.

Scriabin Prelude Op.11 No.9 in EBVT III

Scriabin Prelude Op.13 No.3 in EBVT III

--Andy Strong

Very enjoyable and entertaining Andy!

You know, your "Haddie" has great resonance...if I did not know it was a 56' upright, I would have thought it a grand piano!...and the tone is very nice as well. It sounds great in EBVT III!

Thanks, GP! I posted a "treated version" over in Pianist Corner, Member Recordings, where I used the filter on my sound editing program to quiet down the hiss and I added a little reverb to dress it up a bit. It sounds even more like a grand over there! I just thought, for all those who like to hawk down on the raw, untreated sounds over here, I'd give you the raw untreated sound.

BTW, "There's A Small Hotel" and "The Continental" (posted way, way earlier), are both on my list of "gotta learn that one!" Thanks, again, for tuning, recording and posting all of this excellent music!

--Andy

Time for a new recording! Here is "The Perfect Nanny" by Richard M. and Robert B. Sherman, in an arrangement from the 1963 Mary Poppins Souvernir Song Album (Burbank, CA: Wonderland Music Co.), played by me on my 1903 Haddorff 56" upright.

I love the way the different chord intervals sound through all of the modulations. This is a cute tune, and I love the way EBVT III makes it sound!

The Perfect Nanny

--Andy Strong

Here is my contribution to the "'George Shearing Interpretations for Piano" Book Series E-cital." (WHAT? Well, check out the thread in Pianist Corner, where this recording is cross-posted... I'm trying to get something started! Thanks to btb and Pianoloverus!...)

Over The Rainbow, by Harburg and Arlen, "George Shearing Interpretations for Piano," book No.1, [the red one...] (New York: Robbins Music Corp., 1954).

This is played in my living room on the Haddorff 56" upright, recently tuned to the EBVT III temperament by Bill Bremmer, RPT. The recording is not enhanced with reverb or EQ or anything. This is the way the Haddorff sounds. Sorry about the microphone hiss. There are a few unisons out of tune already in the upper registers (loose pins), and the bridge is cracked at D6, so that one is way out of tune until we can get that fixed. Also, my apologies to Jerry Groot, RPT, because a week ago, I promised him I would take the action out and start replacing the hammer butt plates to keep from destroying the hammer butts by playing with wobbly hammers. (If you listen closely, you can hear those clackers!) I am a day late, so I am sure in his eyes, I am a low-life weasle for not keeping my word. But this was an emergency!!! Sorry, Jer!

--Andy

Uh huh, I read that, this time. I miss a lot of things written in here but not all of them Andy. I'm sure the pitch raise Bill had to do on your piano contributed to the unison's demise too. It often does.

Actually, when you have loose butt plates and the hammers wobble back and forth you hit on so many different spots on the hammer because of the wobbliness that the hammer can wear out much quicker than normal. You want the hammer to strike in the same spot each time not to the left then to the right then left etc. And yes, it does also create more wear in the lower part of the butt too. So, get cracking dude! Or, do I have to come down there with a whip? SNAP!

After doing "Over The Rainbow," I just had to play another Shearing arrangement! I give you:


"I'm In The Mood For Love" by McHugh and Fields, "George Shearing Interpretations for Piano," book No.1, [the red one, again...] (New York: Robbins Music Corp., 1954).

Since the Haddorff is in pieces on my livingroom floor for the wobbly hammer eradication project, I played this on The Mighty Lester, 36" spinet, tuned, as you know, to EBVT III. However, it was last touched for tuning in April. This recording above is plain--no enhancements whatsoever. I put the microphones in some kleenex boxes (my mic stands) on top of a stack of music on each end of the closed lid, pointing at each other toward the center of the piano. I mashed the soft pedal down and I played!

I'd like to record this one again, when the Haddorff is ready, to see if I can get a little more sultry tone out of the bigger piano. Still, this was a fun arrangement to play, and for all of the weather changes we've had since April, the Lester stills sounds pretty sweet! My playing got a little too chordy in the B section. Sorry. I lost track of the notion that the story of the song comes from the girl's perspective and I got excited like a guy! Still, I hope you like it!

--Andy

P.S. Crossposted in the George Shearing thread and in Member Recordings in Pianist Corner, with a "treated" version that puts the piano into a "room" and softens the tone a little to make it sound more "grand" (hopefully). Well, o.k. If you insist... "I'm In The Mood For Love" treated version

Finally back home!....I am up way too late here ....could not stop the LX playing my piano!...Ari's new "Classical West" hammers are the culprits.

While I was away from home working, I had the hammers professionally installed, action regulated to the hammers, etc. and had my tech also tune the piano to Bill Bremmer's latest EBVT III figures to save time.....he used the Verituner. The only thing I did was to clean up some of the unisons before recording. (his tuning is staying put better than mine :))

Mind you, the hammers only have about 7 hours play on these recordings, and they already sound incredible. The more they are played, the better they sound. Some voicing will be in order eventually...but at this point, I am just going to have the LX play away.

What a sound...so clean/clear, sustain is fantastic, and the tone is amazing, even at this early stage. I am blown away by the sound already!! I think Ari has a fantastic hammer here for the market. They are evidently unlike any hammer out there. Perhaps Ari can chime in and explain them further.

In the meantime, here are some recordings I made yesterday. I have my Korg MR-1000 recorder back, and I used both the Rode NT-5's and the Avenson STO-2 mics, using Pat's mic configuration. (thanks Patrick!) NO processing of any kind was used.
More recordings to follow. Enjoy with a pair of headphones for the best results.

I guess you could say I have a true hybrid piano...original 1925 soundboard, case, then the Wapin bridge mod, Ari's hammers and Bass strings, the Wessell/Nickel/Gross back-action carbon kit, and to top it off, Bill's EBVT III. I wonder what the original builders of this piano would say if they could see and hear it now!

Bill, as you can hear, your EBVT III shines!! Hat is off to Michael Walthen as well for the Wapin! Of course kudos to Wayne Stahnke for the LX system!

Congrats Ari on a fantastic new hammer!

1. Dick Hyman Plays Fats Waller on the LX, from the "Live Performance" Jazz Series, Rode NT-5 Mics http://www.box.net/shared/0tjoyi6mrl

2. Hyman/Fats Waller on the LX, from the "Live Performance" Jazz Series, Avenson STO-2 mics http://www.box.net/shared/74b34fxjh0

3. Ravel "Ondine" from "Gaspard de la Nuit" played by Katherine Bacon from the "Live Performance" Series for the LX, transcribed from a Welte Piano Roll. STO-2 mics
http://www.box.net/shared/a3gq1x7tqh

4. Bauer "Barberini's Minuet" played by Katherine Bacon from the "Live Performance" Series for the LX, transcribed from a Welte Piano Roll. Avenson STO-2 mics http://www.box.net/shared/5gmcxd645c

5. Paganini-Liszt "Caprice in A minor" played by Katherine Bacon from the "Live Performance" Series for the LX, transcribed from a Welte Piano Roll. Avenson STO-2 mics http://www.box.net/shared/yk738dijh5

These are my favorites so far! Wonderful - could you elaborate on the tuning? Did the tech use Bill's tuning figures for each note, or EBVT offsets applied to a Verituner calculation?

Ron Koval
chicagoland

Hi Ron,

Great!.....Good question...he is coming back tomorrow, Wed, to do a bit more work on the piano and touch up the tuning...I will ask him your question.

As promised, here are more of the recordings I made yesterday.

For some reason, there is some slight distortion and spacial compression when using the box.net player...it's best if you can download them, then listen.


1. Hyman/Fats Waller 3 on the LX http://www.box.net/shared/ktvorpy5p4

2. Katherine Bacon on the LX http://www.box.net/shared/4cg38bbluj

3. Hyman/Fats Waller 4 on the LX http://www.box.net/shared/h1784n93d5

4."Mood Indigo" Johnny Guarnieri plays Duke Ellington on the LX http://www.box.net/shared/20fhqhffvx

5. Hyman/Fats Waller 5 on the LX http://www.box.net/shared/d5o8goe91x

6. Guarnieri plays Duke Ellington on the LX 2 http://www.box.net/shared/uz3ojjfjd6

7. "Song of India" Fox Trot "The Original Piano Trio" on the LX http://www.box.net/shared/7pal3pgci5

8. "Yankee Doodle Blues" Fox Trot "The Original Piano Trio" on the LX http://www.box.net/shared/ad5cj13dzr

Ron, thought about your question...I gave my tech the exact figures Bill made for me, and asked that he input those exactly as written into the Verituner, correct partials etc...so I believe he did not use offsets...will clarify that with him tomorrow.

Amazing. That is the way that piano is supposed to sound!!
It sounds as if it were played by a real person, and he, or she, Loved it!!

Ron, I was correct...the tuning is from Bill's exact figures into the Verituner.

The tuning turned out beautifully...when I have some time later, will post some new recordings...the hammers are evening out nicely...quite a wonderful sound coming from the piano now.

Joshua, welcome to PW, and thanks...I agree!

A few more recordings made right after the Verituner tuning in EBVT III. Even in this raw state, the hammers have a very clear and focused sound, with tons of sustain. I am going to let them play in before possibly doing any voicing.

I used the Rode NT-5's for these recordings. Enjoy~!

1. Brahms "Intermezzo in B flat minor, Opus 117, No.2, played on the LX by Earl Wild http://www.box.net/shared/5c4ne9bx69

2. Respighi "Notturno in G-Flat" p-b Earl Wild http://www.box.net/shared/kbmcqatjgy

3. Moszkowski "Etincelles Opus 36, No.6" p-by Earl Wild http://www.box.net/shared/90l3xrf7m2

4. "Out of Africa" p-by Brian Pezzone http://www.box.net/shared/eacee5hxke

5. Brian Pezzone No.2 on the LX http://www.box.net/shared/dmal5ivscm

6. Rachmaninoff "Flight of the Bumble Bee" S. Rachmaninoff, pianist, http://www.box.net/shared/6f039r4uvj

7. Rachmaninoff "Liebesfreud" S.Rachmaninoff, Pianist. http://www.box.net/shared/c84aiz400m

Fantastic sound!!

Thanks!


Sophia

Hi Sophia,

Thanks!...glad you are enjoying them.

It was pointed out that I had the incorrect title on the above #1....it is in fact Brahms "Intermezzo in B-Flat minor"... corrected.

It's interesting how the choice of mics changes the sound. At the moment, the hammers have not been voiced, they are in their original state, and as a result, there is a lot of upper end harmonics/energy coming through, partly due to the effect of this type of hammer and it's effect with the Wapin. Using the Rode NT5's accentuates these upper harmonics, where as the Avenson's do not quite as much.


A few more recordings to come..........:)

Grandpianoman, I just have to say those are the best recordings I've heard of a piano. In my opinion there is a world of difference with the new hammers. Incredible.

Andrew, thanks...that is quite a compliment.

It's amazing how the hammer can change the sound so dramatically.

These hammers are in a class by themselves. Couple that with this piano and there is magic.

Here are the rest of the recordings I made...these were at the end of the recording session, so some of the unisons are not quite pure. "Il Postino" begins that section, and the Scarlatti Sonatas were the last pieces recorded. Never the less, the sound of the piano with these hammers is amazing, even with no voicing! Enjoy!


1. --Il Postino-- played by Brian Pezzone on the LX
http://www.box.net/shared/qfvj4ho2qd

2. --Schindler's List-- played by Pezzone on LX http://www.box.net/shared/a5eaa9ap7d (at the very end of this piece, the sustain, tone and clarity of the piano is amazing)

3. Brian Pezzone composition played on the LX by Pezzone http://www.box.net/shared/oqppca54gn

4. --Theme from Somewhere in Time-- p-by Brian Pezzone http://www.box.net/shared/27reni69y5

5. Theme from --Four Weddings And A Funeral-- p-by B.Pezzone http://www.box.net/shared/jrljzdl4zs

6. Rachmaninoff - Etude-tableau in B Minor, Op. 39, No. 4- p-by Rachmaninoff http://www.box.net/shared/yzheeigzr8

7. Rachmaninoff -Polichinelle, Op. 3, No. 4- p-by Rachmanioff http://www.box.net/shared/ca3fol5g2m

8. Rachmaninoff -Prelude in G Minor, Op. 23, No. 5- p-by Rachmaninoff http://www.box.net/shared/v3r5rl5jsc

9. Rachmaninoff -Etude-tableau in A Minor, Op. 39, No. 6- p-by Rachmanioff http://www.box.net/shared/hi2xn4msth

10. Scarlatti --Sonata in G, K.14-- played by Gerald Robbins on the LX http://www.box.net/shared/s22saigzz5

11. Scarlatti --Sonata in E, K.531-- p-by Gerald Robbins on the LX http://www.box.net/shared/f6iqxljsle

12. Scarlatti --Sonata in A, K.533-- p-by Gerald Robbins on the LX http://www.box.net/shared/qbsoopsa1b