Mechanical Music Digest  Archives
You Are Not Logged In Login/Get New Account
Please Log In. Accounts are free!
Logged In users are granted additional features including a more current version of the Archives and a simplified process for submitting articles.
Home Archives Calendar Gallery Store Links Info
MMD > Archives > March 1999 > 1999.03.17 > 06Prev  Next


PianoLodeon Tone and Action Noise
By Mike Knudsen

Thanks to Jim Quashnock for his inspiring tale of how to make and
install your own tone rods from basic stock.  I do remember the steel
axles of my Erector Set having a really nice tone!

Jim, based on my own Lodeon and a couple others I've heard, plus
recent comments by others here on MMD, a lot of action noise is indeed
normal.  Mine seems to make more noise when the note is released than
when it's struck, but that may be just because the tone striking covers
up the noise, and since the release noise is not related to the musical
rhythm, it sticks out in your mind.  And since the Piano Lodeon rolls
always release the note shortly after the hit (no dampers), the release
noise usually occurs while no other notes are being struck.

I just "auditioned" my Lodeon again, playing both by roll and by hand,
and most of noise is from the piano action itself, not the player part.
My beat-up Jaymar toy isn't much better.  Sort of like releasing a
chord on a well-worn tracker pipe organ, but not as much fun!  Now we
know why real piano actions are so full of little felt pieces.  :-)

Something I forgot to mention earlier -- a tone rod has two notes:
the "strike" tone that you normally hear, and the "pluck" tone you
get by plucking the free end with your finger and letting the whole
rod vibrate visibly like a music box comb tooth.  Sort of like the
"nominal" and "hum" tones of a church bell.

By an amazing coincidence -- or is it a sign of good quality tone --
my Jaymar's tone rods each have a pluck tone exactly two octaves (well,
maybe three -- it's deep!) below their strike tones.  On the Lodeon's
rods the relationship is a lot harder to pin down, which _may_ be
related to their poorer strike tone quality.  I'd like to hear your
comments on this.

Mike Knudsen


(Message sent Thu 18 Mar 1999, 04:04:41 GMT, from time zone GMT-0500.)

Key Words in Subject:  Action, Noise, PianoLodeon, Tone

Home    Archives    Calendar    Gallery    Store    Links    Info   


Enter text below to search the MMD Website with Google



CONTACT FORM: Click HERE to write to the editor, or to post a message about Mechanical Musical Instruments to the MMD

Unless otherwise noted, all opinions are those of the individual authors and may not represent those of the editors. Compilation copyright 1995-2024 by Jody Kravitz.

Please read our Republication Policy before copying information from or creating links to this web site.

Click HERE to contact the webmaster regarding problems with the website.

Please support publication of the MMD by donating online

Please Support Publication of the MMD with your Generous Donation

Pay via PayPal

No PayPal account required

                                     
Translate This Page