Strength allows a piano to perform with integrity and authority over time. GL Series pianos are built with remarkable strength to thrive amid the rigors of long-term use.
SOLID construction creates an exceptionally rigid foundation to support string tension. First, the pinblock is fitted to the plate. Then, the pinblock and over-lapping stretcher bar are integrated into a single structure and solidly anchored to the rim. The extraordinary thickness of the stretcher bar highlights the structural integrity of this framework designed to ensure stable tuning and powerful tone.
A piano’s keyslip is the long, horizontal piece of wood that covers the front faces of the keys. Because it is made of wood, a keyslip can warp or bend with changes in humidity, causing keys to stick. To avoid this problem, the GL Series keyslip is reinforced with a heavy-gauge steel liner that prevents warping or bending in any direction. Keys move freely with virtually no possibility of rubbing or sticking against the keyslip.
To support the weight of the action over time, the keybed is made of sturdy, laminated hardwoods and reinforced with a steel beam that adds strength and rigidity to prevent energy loss.
Beams are joined to the inner rim using four joinery methods. Each beam is fitted with a hardwood dowel, mortised into the rim for exact fit, glued, and secured with hardened screws. This solid bond through the entire inner rim adds rigidity that helps the piano create more energy and tone.
The plate is the acoustically-neutral gray iron framework of the piano on which the strings are tensioned. As the “backbone” of the piano, the plate must be designed and built to ensure stability while enduring up to 18 tons of string tension. At the same time, it must be molded with sufficient precision to ensure exact string lengths. The Vacuum Mold Process (V-Pro) produces a sturdy plate that is dimensionally accurate and consistent, with added strength provided by the “crossbone” design of the plate struts. The result is a plate that is strong, stable and beautiful.
The Multi-Grip pinblock on all GL Series grand pianos is fully laminated with a minimum of eleven cross-banded layers of North American hard maple for maximum strength and balanced torque. Tuning pins are made from the finest carbon steel, machine-threaded for maximum continuous torque and nickel plated to enhance beauty and provide long-term protection.
