Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Piano Tuner-Technicians Forum getting a whole new action for my piano

Yeah, I was thinking of getting another one, but I think having one D is already too excessive.
Another D is a lot more money, then you have the logistics of 2 large pianos.

Maybe one day I will stumble across some C&A NY D and make an offer...
I'd have to fall in love with it so that all common sense goes right out the window hahaha

NOAM,
A new action can be done.

A new raw keyframe and keys is not trimmed to fit the action cavity and does not have the top action frame mounting blocks fitted. Nor are the capstans and back-checks installed. To fit a new action will mean fitting a new keyframe to the key-bed and the the cheek blocks. This is not a job for your typical technician. Quite a bit of dust goes along with the work.

I don't think any knowledgeable or skilled tone-regulator would have a problem fitting NY hammers to a Hamburg origins Steinway. The pianos are so similar overall. We seem to love to exacerbate any differences with abandon, such is the emotion surrounding Steinway.

You might want to consider making a second action that is state of the art. I mean use the carbon fiber W,N&G shanks. They give a level of precision, control, evenness, (especially for soft playing), and stability that wood cannot provide.

Besides the cost, the downside is you will now have "two" pianos to break in.

Ed, thank you and I will take this into consideration. The idea of state of the art action full of carbon fiber hammer shanks is something I haven't thought of!!!

The Hamburg side of my piano is breaking in very well. It's opening up faster than I ever imagined. I don't want to describe it here out of fear of being belittled, but let me just say - I can hear the sound board opening up!

This would give me the opportunity to properly break in NY hammers without feeling rushed to "see" what my new piano would sound like. I already know it sounds good. Good doesn't do it justice, I don't know what steinway did but this thing is a miracle!!! I really feel I found a Gem. They are all fantastic, but this one is special...

At least let me believe that no? hahaha

I don't find any of those reasons particularly compelling. In fact, numbers 1, 3, 4, and 5 have no credence IMO.

Instead of "why not?" a better question to ask yourself is "why"? If you are not pleased how certain composers sound on your piano, intensive piano lessons with a terrific teacher and intensive practice would have much more benefit than changing the hammers.

I do not care why he is interested in doing this. What I do not understand is why he needs other people's permission to do it, and why a bunch of strangers, rather than his own family.

Or he may just be a troll.

Why make such uncalled for comments?

We once prepared a D for a concert with a well known pianist, one of his own pianos actually. He used two complete actions, one with a heavy touch for rehearsal and the other with quite a light touch for the concert. All of it made in Hamburg.
So, it should be no problem for you to order a new pre-voiced action from Hamburg, but you will need a technician to do the final regulation and voicing which suits your demands.

Why not make an arrngement with a manufacturer to spend a day in their factory.
I'm pretty certain that Hurstwood farm pianos here in Kent UK would, for a small sum, even put you up for a couple of days. They will make a piano to suit your tastes.
I and my pianist friend spent almost a whole day there and they are the most helpfull folk out - not even a penny for all their time. They have a site on the "net".
Nearby is Finchcocks where there is a collection of old but playable pianos; talks are given during the summer months

I'm not asking for permission. Go back to my original post and read it again. I asked if it has been done before and what to expect and if there are any implications.

I didn't see you answer the question instead you decided yourself to be a troll - on my topic. You can leave

PS - why do some people have multiple guitars?
I figure this is a great and cost efficient way to make 2 piano personalities out of one.

And of course I am having a professional do it. I'm discussing it with my tech.
Just here for advice, not to be judged.

Interesting, I also considered buying a second action.

But I didn't persue further, as it is not so clear if I can really get the sound I want.

How can you be sure? Getting a second action is expensive and seems to me like buying a new piano unseen/unheard?

I just have two contrasting pianos. That is a much better solution.

Why not also make an action with Wurzen Felt Weiker (sp) hammers. Then you'd have something.

On average the difference between NY & Hamburg (among other things) is Action Ratio. Typically the NY is 6.5, while the Hamburg is 5.5. This is one of the things that make the H's so desirable.

Hamburg hammer flanges have the center pin 1 mm further away from the screw holes than the NY flanges. It's a geometry thing.

So you could make four action combinations with four different sets of hammers,
four top actions and two key sets. That would be two NY combos and two Hamburg combo. The Touch Weight could be the same with identical Strike Weights.

Experiment. ask your tech to install shank clips to change the weight to test the tonal and touch variation.

That should keep you busy.

noambenhamou,

I am no expert on NY Steinway hammers verses Renner or Abel hammers. You have every right to pursue your dream piano though, and the sound that most pleases you. If you have the financial resources to accomplish that end, you have every right to, and some people will always be jealous because they can only afford a cheap Korean or spinet piano.

But those cheap Korean grands are pretty decent learning opportunities!