Table of Contents
What does Overstrung Underdamped mean?
If you see a wooden bar with the hammers sitting below, it is overdamped. On an underdamped piano, when you lift the lid, you will have an unobstructed view of the hammers with felt dampers sitting below. An old overdamped piano (note the wooden bar above the dampers)
Are Overstrung pianos better?
The advantage of the overstrung is that the bass strings can be as long as possible. Generally, a longer string will give a better quality of sound so the bass of an overstrung is usually richer and more resonant than a straight strung of similar size and age.
What is the difference between Overstrung and straight strung piano?
In a straight-strung frame, all the strings are strung parallel and are vertically (or obliquely) positioned, whereas in the overstrung frame the bass strings are strung over the middle section in an “X” style.
What’s an Overstrung piano?
Modern upright and grand instruments are overstrung which means that the bass strings run diagonally across the piano crossing over the treble strings and this arrangement gives the longest possible string length for the size of the piano.
What is an over damper?
The Damper is the part of the piano action that stops the string from ringing on when the finger is released from the key. In the picture to the left there is a mechanism above the hammers. This is called Over Damper.
What is under damper piano?
The dampers in an under-damped piano sit below the hammers. Why are under-damped pianos the preferred choice? The under-damped action terminates the vibrations from the strings much more efficiently than the earlier over-damped arrangement.
What is the best make of piano?
Who are the Best Piano Makers in the World?
- Bösendorfer. Bösendorfer is one of the oldest luxury piano makers in the world, having started in Vienna, Austria in 1828.
- Blüthner. Another great piano manufacturer from Germany, this time Leipzig.
- Steinway & Sons.
- Bechstein.
- Fazioli.
- Shigeru Kawai.
- Mason and Hamlin.
- Stuart and Sons.
Why are grand pianos better than upright?
Better lever, quicker response… Grand pianos keys are nearly 30% longer than upright keys, giving grands considerably better leverage and more dynamic range. Gravity works with a grand action, bringing the hammer and other parts back to their resting positions quickly and naturally.
What is a boudoir grand piano?
The boudoir grand piano, also called a parlour grand piano, was a popular choice for home use in the 19th and early 20th centuries for those who could afford it. Although smaller than a concert grand piano, the boudoir piano produces a rich and balanced tone.
What is a cottage piano?
Definition of cottage piano : a small upright piano of the 19th century.
Who invented the Overstrung piano?
With the adoption of the one-piece cast-iron frame, overstringing, and felt hammers, the piano achieved its modern form in all but a few details. One was the invention in 1862 by Claude Montal of Paris of a pedal that kept the dampers off the strings only for notes already held down.
Who created cross stringing?
Henry Steinway Jr.
The invention of cross-stringing in the 1820s is variously credited to Alpheus Babcock and Jean-Henri Pape. The first patented use in grand pianos in the United States was by Henry Steinway Jr. in 1859.
What piano is parallel strung?
Pianist and conductor Daniel Barenboim has unveiled a new type of piano, which he says is “radically different” to the standard concert grand. It is built with straight, parallel strings, promising a superior sound to a regular piano, in which the strings are installed diagonally.
How many dampers does a piano have?
Modern pianos usually have three pedals, from left to right, the soft pedal (or una corda), the sostenuto pedal, and the sustaining pedal (or damper pedal).
What size is a boudoir piano?
Boudoir grand pianos tend to range from 5ft (152cm) up to around 7ft (214cm). The overall length is determined from the front of the keybed to the far curve.