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Piano
Finders Standard
on
Scale of All Pianos
effective date 12/01/01
Explanatory
Note: The Piano Finders Standard is a set of criteria we use for
rating a specific piano compared to all other pianos, and also compared to
other pianos in its class. The standard is based upon features or
properties of the piano that we have found are important to pianists,
piano technicians, and piano buyers in general. There are five basic
categories:
Quality
of General Construction: There are myriad ways of building a piano.
However, over the years there has emerged a consensus of sorts in the
piano industry as to which types of construction are preferred for the
highest quality instruments. These typically include such features as
1) Overstrung bass 2)
Continuous Rim 3) Solid spruce soundboard
4) Certain standard types of materials and construction employed in the
case, rim, and plate or frame. It will be noted that certain of these
features are only found on grands. The general consensus is that the
highest quality instruments must be of a grand piano type of construction.
An
additional consensus is that generally the larger the grand, the better
the tone, and the better the quality of construction, since the larger
grands are generally built and targeted for the more serious musician. For
this reason the second part of the General Construction category rates
the instrument in question according to size. Note again that the
top two categories are reserved for grand pianos.
Durability:
How long the instrument is expected to last under a specified rate of
usage.
Tone:
How the instrument sounds, and meets certain tone-producing criteria. Some
of the criteria are basic to all pianos. Other criteria are specific to
larger quality grands. Again, the size of the instrument is an important
factor.
Touch:
How responsive the instrument is to the touch, and how it meets certain
performance and adjustment criteria.
Appearance:
The condition of the instrument's case and finish, and whether it meets
certain industry standard finishing criteria.
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Website
Email:
/contactus.htm
2121
N. California Blvd, Suite 290, Walnut Creek, CA
94596
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925.676.3355
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Fax: 925.672.3792
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#R1.11
Piano Finders Standard (PFS) Test Results
on Scale of All Pianos (|Effective
Date as of 12/01/01) |
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This Report shows the weights of the various factors used to
determine the PFS ratings for Pianos For Sale through the Piano
Finders Shopping Service.
PFS Test Performed by:
Karen E. Lile &
Kendall Ross Bean based on
Certification for Karen E. Lile expires on
9/2003
Certification for Kendall R. Bean expires on
9/2003
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PFS
Test Results – On Scale of All Pianos
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Quality
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up
to 100
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Durability
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up
to 100
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Tone
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up
to 100
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Touch
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up
to 100
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Appearance
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up
to 100
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Serviceability
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up
to 100
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Appearance
= 100
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PFS Test:
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Quality of General Construction
1. 10%
: Has
overstrung bass
2. 10%
: Has
88 Keys; 2 pedals; width
keyboard is 3'11" to 4'1" wide; spacing between naturals
is 1/32" to 1/16"
3. 10%
: Has
solid spruce soundboard and a continuous rim, and working sostenuto
pedal in middle (3 pedals)
4.
10%
: Has
duplex scale, aliquot scale;
or capo 'd astro bar in treble
5.
10%
: Pinblock
is mated to the stretcher, ribs notched into rim; has special tone
enhancing features such as: arched (bell shaped) plate, wet or green
sand cast; tension resonator;
and/or hard rock maple used for rim, other high quality materials
known for their musicality and durability in the construction of the
piano.
The
quality of design, materials and workmanship for the piano when it
was built is equal to or greater than that which equals the Piano
Finders Specifications for the following size categories.
6.
10%
: 36”
to 42” upright or 4’5” to 5’ grands
7.
10%
: 43”
to 48” upright or 5’1” to 5’6” grands
8.
10%
:
48” to 60” upright or 5’7” to 6’4” grands
9.
10%
: 6’5
to 7’4” grands
10.
10%
: 7’5”
to 9’6” grands
This Piano is at 100
% of QUALITY
on the PFS on the Scale of All Pianos
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Durability
The following parts:
Soundboard, pinblock, strings, tuning pins, dampers, hammers, shanks, flanges, whippens,
and backchecks would not
need to be replaced before (see * ):
1.
10%
: 0-5
years
2.
10%
: 6-10
years
3.
10%
: 11-20
years
4.
10%
: 21-30
years
5.
10%
: 31-40
years
The following parts that affect the cosmetic appearance
of the piano: case parts, veneer, cabinet finish, pedals and other
hardware would not need to be replaced before (see * ):
6.
10%
: 0-5
years
7.
10%
: 6-10
years
8.
10%
: 11-20
years
9.
10%
: 21-30
years
10.
10%
: 31-40
years
* For the purpose of
the PFS, we assume that the piano will receive
3 hours of standard use per
week in a humidity-controlled environment. We have also based our opinion on service record for
similarly constructed and designed pianos. New parts are not always
more durable than original parts because they may not be as well
made, seasoned, etc. Because of the uncertainty in predicting the
future, this particular piano may end up being more or less durable
than predicted in the rating.
This Piano is at 100
% of DURABILITY
on the PFS on the Scale of All Pianos
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Tone
1. 10%
:
All keys make a tone when depressed with normal
pressure
2. 10%
: Pitch
at A440. Tuning:
Equal Temperment or as close as possible.
(Includes all of the following:)
·
No intervals are pure except octaves.
·
Octaves may be stretched slightly, but no more than
about 1/2 beat/second
·
5ths, minor 3rds and minor 6ths are narrower than
perfect.
·
Beat speed increases gradually on all imperfect
intervals as you travel up the scale.
3.
10%
:
Sound is free of all squeaks, clicks, rattles, buzzes,
and other noises that are not part of the normal
operation of a piano.
4. 10%
: Has
adequate sustain time according to PF Specs.
5. 10%
: Sound
is rich in harmonic content, has proper depth and brightness.
Does not have twanginess or tinniness.. Dynamic
Range: capable of
delivering the full spectrum of dynamics from ppp (pianississimo) to
fff (fortississimo)
without excessive effort, distortion or breaking up, according to
Piano Finders Specifications.
Has a tone equal to or greater
than the Piano Finders Specifications for the following size
categories:
6.
10%
: 36”
to 42” uprights or 4’5” to 5’ grands
7.
10%
: 43”
to 48” uprights or 5’1” to 5’6” grands
8.
10%
: 49"
to 60" uprights or 5’7”
to 6’4” grands
9.
10%
: 6’5
to 7’4” grands
10.
10%
: 7’5”
to 9’6” grands
This Piano is at 100
% of TONE
on the PFS on the Scale of All Pianos
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Touch
1.
10%
: All
keys perform the function of lifting the hammer when depressed.
Pedal Height 1 1/2" to 2 1/2" on all pedals. All
pedals rest at uniform height.
2.
10%
: No
cracks, chips, sharp edges or other damage on any key.
3.
10%
: Action
is not a drop-lever style found on most spinets.
4.
10%
: Keys
level, or crowned no more than 1/16" towards center of
keyboard; keys consistently dipped 13/32" ( +
1/32"); Sharp Height: 15/32"
( + 1/32") above surface of white keys and uniform note to
note and consistent throughout.
5.
10%
: Keybushings
properly eased, not too tight or too loose.
6.
10%
: Ivory
keytops or keytops with similar properties.
7.
10%
: Grand
Piano action with repetition lever and spring; and action design,
materials and construction capable of being properly regulated.
8.
10%
: Grand
Action Finely Regulated (includes ALL of
the following)
·
Let-off: 1/16" to 1/32" from string and
consistent throughout
·
Drop: 1/16" to 1/8" below point of let-off
and consistent throughout
·
Checking: 5/8"
to 1/2" from string and consistent throughout
In no case, however should the hammer be allowed in any way
to brush against the backcheck on the upstroke.
·
Aftertouch: 1/16"
to 1/8" or about the thickness of a nickel
·
Repetition spring tension: must neither "jump" nor be too slow to rise, but
may be anywhere from "slow" and steady to
"brisk" and steady, as long as it is uniform from note to
note. Pianist must not
feel a "kick" in key when key is released.
·
Strike distance or hammer height:
Nominally from 1 7/8" to 1 5/8" from string and
consistent throughout. In
all cases the key dip shall always be set properly first, and then
the strike distance adjusted to accommodate the key dip.
·
Damper Timing:
Damper should start to rise when hammer is 1/3 to 1/2 of the way to
the string, no later or sooner.
·
Hammer shanks traveled so hammers
don't rub each other
when lifted several at the same time.
·
Action centers properly pinned: 3 to 5 grams on hammer
and whippen flanges, or capable of delivering results of
3 to 7
swings on hammer swing test.
9.
10%
: Key
length is typical of 6’ or larger grands.
Action design, quality of materials and functionality is
equal to Piano Finders Specifications for a grand over 6 feet long.
10.
10%
: Grand
Action Touchweight is 50 grams ( + 5 gram variance) uniform
from note to note. May taper from bass to treble.
This Piano is at 100
% of TOUCH
on the PFS on the Scale of All Pianos
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Appearance
1.
10%
: External
wood surfaces of cabinet are protected with any of the following
agents: nitrocellulose lacquer, polyester, or other equivalent type
of finish.
2.
10%
: Hardware
shall intact and free from the following:
stripped, wrong size, or type or missing screws;
non-standard, wrong size or non-matching
parts; broken, damaged or non-aligned locks
(if it has a lock).
3.
10%
: Hardware
shall be in good condition and free from the following:
tarnishing, worn-through plating or material; substandard
quality replating, cleaning, polishing or recoating.
4.
10%
: Case
parts shall be intact on piano and free from the following:
missing, damaged or broken parts; non-standard, wrong size,
or non-matching replacement parts.
5.
10%
: Case
parts shall be in good condition, properly installed on piano and
free from the following: stripped
or missing screws, stripped screw holes in non-hardware joints; frozen, sticking or rubbing parts (such
as fallboard or music desk); missing or damaged knobs, rubber
buttons; broken glue joints; wobbly
legs; loose broken or stripped pedal lyre.
6.
10%
: Finish
is free from the following: dirt,
dust, smoke, nicotine, or any other
residue; crazing, cracking, sun bleaching, fading; fisheye
peeling or other adhesion problems; chipping, blushing,
water spots, swirl marks, nicks, gouges, burns,
or dings.
7.
10%
: Finish
applied evenly and uniformly, and hand-rubbed or satinized if
nitrocellulose lacquer. If
polyester, shall be polished to a high gloss.
Finish is closed pored.
8.
10%
:
Finish
surfaces are smooth without significant ripples,
scratches or depressions
when viewed under average household lighting.
9.
10%
: If
ebony, hue and shade shall be uniform. If wood grain:
wood grain veneers shall be matching, stained to a uniform
hue & shade and appropriate for type of veneer.
10.
10%
: If
ebony, wood grain patterns shall not be seen through finish.
If wood grain: wood grain patterns shall be readily apparent through clear
finish.
This Piano
is at 100
% of APPEARANCE
on the PFS on the Scale of All Pianos
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