Hi All,  Yes, today the higher grade or most competent PTG (Piano
technicians Guild) members can and will rescale a piano and they can
improve on old scales, but not all of them do.  Additionally, there
are rebuilders out there that do not go the last mile.

I purchased a 5'4" #32 scale Charles Stieff Welte grand at auction.
It had been rebuilt to a degree in the 1990s.  The rebuilder did not
put in a new pin block or replace the bridge which had splits in it,
nor were the best hammers or strings available installed.  The hammers
in the lower bass are a little too soft and the other hammers have the
volume rise too fast with increased hammer velocity.  The bass is also
tubby and I do not think it should be.  I suspect the strings are the
problem.  I would have the bass hammers treated except it would then be
loud and tubby which would not, in my opinion, be an improvement.

My point is the fact that a piano that has been rebuilt or partially
restored with new strings and hammers does not mean it is as good as it
may have been 85 years ago or that it has been rescaled.

It takes a trained ear of a competent RPT (Registered Piano Technician)
or musician to evaluate a pianos sound and not all RPTs rescale pianos.
In rescaling I think more effort is put in having a smoother transition
in the sound between wrapped and non-wrapped strings, i.e., at the break,
than at the low end, but some improvement may be made there as well.

At least one RPT I know in the Baltimore area, David Hughes, does
rescale pianos and he is one of the top RPTs in the area.  Dave also
makes new sound boards and parts such as legs and lids, etc., just
like the original parts.

Although rescaling should improve sound it would be difficult to
measure or compare the change.  The smoothness of sound transition at
the break can be improved by voicing and the problems seem to be more
of a challenge in shorter pianos.  A lot of work has been done on
rescaling some of the shorter Asian grand pianos such that some are
much better than they and other short pianos have been in the past.

This information is what I have picked up on at the local Chapter
meetings of the PTG of which I am simply an associate member not a
registered member.

Respectfully,
Allen Ford