Low Tension String Scale: Fact or Crap?

[erecording]

When I visited a Steinway dealership not long ago I was told that Steinway uses a low tension scale. The advantage to this is that the tone sustains longer than other brands and doesn't sound as sharp because the strings don't have as much downbearing on the bridge.

Steinway stresses this like it's a major advantage, which I have to question. Isn't every piano that is tuned to A440 strung to approximately 40,000 pounds of string tension? So please tell me what a low tension scale is. Is this just some garbage that Steinway uses as a selling point or does it actually have some merit?

I would appreciate any responses. Thank you.

[chickering9]

...Isn't every piano that is tuned to A440 strung to approximately 40,000 pounds of string tension? ...

Actually, the amount of tension required to bring a string to a certain pitch depends on the diameter and length (combined=mass) of the string, so tensions vary from piano to piano, and even from string to string in any piano.  Characterization of a given piano as low-tension or high-tension would refer only to an average of all the various tensions in that piano.   Ideally, if well-scaled, the selection of diameter and length of string will be carefully chosen so that tensions are as uniform as they can be so that stable tunings and even voicings are possible, and so that stresses on the plate are well-distributed.   I don't know the specs on Steinway, but I have read some techs who suggested Steinways are moderate tension instruments, including the concert D, but their models vary significantly from model to model, and within any model, tensions vary significantly from string to string.  The type of sound generated by various scalings of wire mass certainly produces various results in tonal nature--which is good for us since personal taste and our ears differ.

[G.Fiore]

 Chick, has related the basics really well. Steinway's are indeed medium tension scales.   Asian, and some German pianos generally use high tension scales by design. High tension scales produce very consistent sounding pianos from one  to another.
 When talking about a piano with a high, medium, or low tension scale, you must also take into consideration how that scale relates to the way the piano was bellied.  How dense, and from what material(wood) is the rim made of? Is the sound board rib-crowned, or compression- crowned, and what type of wood is the sound board made of? The shape,size, and number of ribs, and what material are they made from. What about the hammers. What weight, size,  density, and type of felt,and how were they pressed?
  With a piano that  is well designed and scaled, producing an instrument with great dynamic potential, sustain, clarity of tone, and a well balanced responsive action, it does'nt matter what tension the scale is.  It is the combination of many elements and how the are executed during the manufacturing process that determine the final results. A pianist must then determine if the piano speaks to him/her, not the tension of the scale.

[rich_galassini]

Wow, well said G. Fiore.

You saved me some typing!

[iumonito]

By the way, Steainway's most fortunate design (Model O) happens to be a higher tension scale than its size counterpart, the Model L.

Relative tension is most important at the passaggio (I believe in Steinways this happens at E20/F21.  If F21 has very low tension and E20 is relatively high tension no matter how much voicing you do, that F21 is going to be weak and you'll feel it doesn't speak.

[mrbuffneff]

I was looking at a HaiLun (baby) and heard how the manufacturer used wet sand casting to make iron that could hold 40,000 lbs of tension like the Steinways of the world.  Then I went to the Steinway dealer, and said high tension causing a bright hollow Asian sound and that Steinways were low tension (mid-20's) which allowed for more dynamic range.

I agree with the above posters about scale tension not being the end-all or an important factor compared to the sound, playability, and overall construction, but it's good to have the facts on the web.

According to Steinways website, for smaller pianos, Steinway uses medium tension (~30), and for larger pianos, Steinways have higher Scale tension (~40).

Scale tension from https://www.steinway.com/pianos/steinway/grand/

Steinway Grand Pianos                   Length     Scale Tension
S  (Baby)                                   5'1"         32,300 lb
M (Medium)                           5'7"         33,800 lb
O (Living Room)                           5'10"       41,800 lb
A (Parlor)                                   6'2"         41,800 lb
B (Music Room)                           6'11"       39,000 lb
D (Concert)                                8'11"       45,400 lb


Note: I posted on this old thread because it comes back as a top Google Result for "high tension piano".

Note2: HaiLun sounded really nice to my ears.

[ionian_tinnear]

MrBuff,  thanks for reposting.  It is interesting information for me as an owner of an older M!

[floydgaddpianos]

I understand the tension of the scale to be a significant factor in the responsiveness of the piano.  Differences in design philosophy sometimes arise out of the pursuit of an ideal, and sometimes arise out of economic expediency.  Some pianos with higher tension scales fit into the second category, but certainly not all of them.  The more you can do to educate your ears by playing on pianos that embody the best of different ideals, the happier you will probably be with your final purchase decision in the long term.

[iansinclair]

By the way, Steainway's most fortunate design (Model O) happens to be a higher tension scale than its size counterpart, the Model L.

Relative tension is most important at the passaggio (I believe in Steinways this happens at E20/F21.  If F21 has very low tension and E20 is relatively high tension no matter how much voicing you do, that F21 is going to be weak and you'll feel it doesn't speak.

A bit esoteric for most of use, although quite true!  The only thing that I might add to this is that the passagio, even in Steinways of different models, is not always in the same place -- it's higher in the A's than in the O's, I believe -- and the particular location of it in the A's is one reason for their very even sound.  The devil is in the details!