Perfect Touch for your Grand Piano

The MAGIC of  Precision TouchDesigns tm by Stanwood

Over the last decade David C. Stanwood of Stanwood Piano Innovation Inc. carried out extensive scientific studies of piano actions. Stanwood found that the former methods of measuring and creating the "feel" of pianos were inadequate, so he invented a whole new system of units and measures to explain why pianos "feel" the way they do. It's called "The New Touch Weight Metrology" . This elegantly logical measurement system has revealed a whole undiscovered body of knowledge about how and why pianos feel the way they do and led to the development of Stanwood Precision TouchDesigntm. US Patent #5585582, and #5796024

Every Piano has a Touch Design.

          David C. Stanwood - The Inventor 

What is a Touch Design?.. A Touch Design is a recipe for the "feel" of the pianos "touch" and consists of the measured weight, leverage, and friction in each key, using the new touchweight metrology.  Stanwood's studies found that Touch Design recipes vary widely from piano to piano.  He found that when touch design parameters are very consistent from note to note, the response of the keys will be very consistent as well.  Stanwood also discovered that the combined levels of touch design parameters will indicate if the piano will feel too heavy, too light, or just right.  In addition he found that touch design parameters will tell if a piano is producing full tonal energy.  Stanwood found that when the touch design of one piano was reproduced in another, the "feel" of that piano is reproduced as well. Stanwood calls this "Touchweight Cloning".

Precision TouchDesigntm   -  The Highest Standard

What is a Precision Touch Design?  Stanwood studied the touch designs of many pianos and correlated the data with pianist opinions. From these studies he developed idealized touch design specifications in a variety of standard or customized design configurations which he calls "Precision TouchDesignstm. Stanwood Precision TouchDesignstm may be used to reconfigure the touch of any grand piano thereby creating a degree of perfect touch and tone that is higher than any achieved before.

The task of playing piano is made easier

Think of playing the piano as artfully dancing up and down a staircase.  With Precision TouchDesigntm  the steps are very even and the staircase is just the right steepness.  Without it the steps are uneven and the stair may be too steep or too shallow, requiring more difficult technique to negotiate.  Similarly, in a piano with Precision TouchDesigntm the multiple weight components such as hammer weight and lead weights in the keys are made to a highly accurate standard thereby guaranteeing smooth transitions from note to note with an ideal voicing of the tone.  The action leveraging is designed to be not too heavy or too light but matched to the physique of the player.

A brighter future for Pianos

When asked why no one thought of this before, Stanwood replied: "All this became possible because I spent years taking, graphing, and correlating touchweight data with the aid of computer analysis.  This gave me vision for my inventions. Our piano making forefathers did not have personal computers in their shops." Stanwood says he was inspired by Gottfried Leibnitz and Sir Isaac Newton who both invented Calculus because the existing mathematics did not give answers to problems that needed solving. Similarly, the new touchweight metrology is spawning a whole new range of techniques for improving the feel of pianos that were unimaginable before its inception.

Letters from Stanwood Precision TouchDesign clients.
 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
  • Pianos upgraded with Stanwood Precision Touch Design are highly prized.
  • Upgrading your piano with Stanwood Precision Touch Design will make you a better pianist.
  • Stanwood PrecisionTouchDesignstm can help pianists who are prone to stress injury
  • Makes finding the "ideal" piano easier because now any piano can feel perfectly incredible
    •   
      Stanwood Makes Boston Globe Regional Headlines

    A List of prominent Concert Pianos utilizing Stanwood Precision Touch Designs.

    A very Special Concert Piano in North Carolina (see last paragraph)

    Article entitled "TAKING THE PAIN OUT OF PIANO"

    Stanwood Precision Touch Designs Featured in September 2000 KEYBOARD MAGAZINE

    Excerpt from "The Piano Book"

    Trade Journal Publications by Stanwood at:
    Piano Technician Journal Publications by Stanwood


    Stanwood makes pilgrimage to Cuba

    For more information contact DAVID C. STANWOOD on the Island of Martha's Vineyard.
    Please state your specific interest or needs in regards to the Stanwood Touch Design System.
    Email: stanwood@tiac.net     Phone: (508) 693-1583   FAX  (508) 693-2933

    Check the List of Licensed Precision TouchDesignTM Installers.

    NOTICE:
    The Stanwood Touch Design System is Patented:
    US PATENT # 5,585,582
    US PATENT # 5,796,024
    "TouchDesign" is a trademark of Stanwood Piano Innovations Inc.


    Stanwood Piano Innovations Inc.
    Box 1499
    West Tisbury, MA  02575
    USA
    Phone (508) 693-1583
    FAX   (508) 629-0056
    Created: January 3, 1996

    Last Updated: March 7, 2007