Hear the Granite Piano 

We did an experiment concerning the 1st Prototype Baldwin Grand with Black Absolute Granite (full stone bridge) to determine the optimal pitch the granite pianos should be set to. A regular wood bridge piano (basically all the pianos out there) sound correct at 440 hertz being designed to work best at that pitch, but the more increased the pitch the less sustain would happen, causing a wood bridge piano to sound more annoying and the notes to die out too fast.

With this Granite Piano experiment we wanted to compare different pitches. Using the start of the same song for each pitch, the granite piano was tuned to 440 hertz (government standard first), then tuned to 444 hertz (to engage 528 hertz on C above middle C), and then tuned to 448 hertz which pushed the limits of the harp stressing the framework.

*A word of caution:* Only expensive pianos made for excessive harp pressure limits suggested by the factory should be tuned to the 448 hertz, as it would put excessive pressure to the sound board aging it prematurely. We do NOT recommend doing this to an inexpensive piano, or one that is not approved by the factory specs to accelerate to this extreme pressure, as it could cause injury to a person or damage the piano. The Baldwin 6’3” grand piano used held very well with the secured harp and framework.

On these three pitches the listener could determine which frequency sounded best to them. I preferred the 444 hertz, and 448 hertz personally.