I would like to respond to Larry Lobel's article in 020318 MMD
wherein he says that lengthening the keys, (such as was done
in the Duo-Art), will have an effect on the manual playing.
Larry wrote:

> The laws of physics cannot be repealed or ignored; piano key length
> definitely and absolutely has an effect on manual playability.

Since the key length definitely and absolutely has an effect on manual
playability, could you please tell me what this effect is, and how
strong it is?

> Leverage of the key, as determined by its total length and the balance
> point, has a marked effect on touch weight.

On a typical grand piano, the depth of touch is 3/8", and is "balanced"
so that the capstan rises half that amount, or 3/16".  On a Duo-Art
with long keys, the depth of touch is 3/8" and the capstan rises 3/16".
Is seems to me that the two different length keys are balanced so that
the ratio of dip of the front of the key is twice the distance the
capstan rises.  Don't these keys have the same "balance" (a word that
I define as the ratio of key lengths just mentioned)?

> Since location of the hammer and wippen assemblies is determined by
> the optimal strike point of the hammer on the string and cannot be
> changed, ...

So far, so good.

> ... a change in key leverage will have effects that cannot be
> compensated for by relocation of the other parts.

Sorry, but I just am not aware of what these effects are.  Therefore,
there is no need to relocate anything, and no need to compensate for
anything.  I say that making the keys 6" longer than necessary does not
affect the playing of the piano in any way.  I was really surprised the
first time I ever saw an action being removed from the nine-foot Concert
Grand Steinway "D".  Because of the scaling of the strings, the keyboard
has longer keys in the Bass than the Treble, and the keys for the Bass
section use keys as long or longer than those keys found in a six foot
Duo-Art, so why is this long key effect not complained about by the
artists who play the nine-foot "D" ?

It is entirely possible that there are such effects, however in many
years of thinking about the subject, I am yet to find any effects, and
so I seriously believe that if there were such effects that I would have
heard them by now.  But I wouldn't want to bet my life on it, either.

Anyhow, that's how I see it.  I invite more people to contribute to this
discussion; perhaps we'll all learn something.

Randolph Herr

 [ How does PTG define key balance and key weight, and what
 [ adjustments can the piano tech perform?  Can the balance point
 [ (the fulcrum) be shifted?  Should this be necessary?  -- Robbie