Jeff: If he likes it, leave it alone! If it ain't broke, don't fix it! I understand Glen Gould liked a shallow dip (he did play all that harpsichord music). It's his piano. I know, you don't want someone else to play his piano and ask who regulated it, but.... dave *********** REPLY SEPARATOR *********** On 4/10/00 at 9:15 AM Jeff Stickney wrote: >CAUT, > One of our piano faculty recently purchased a 5-year-old Steinway D that >had been in Spokane, WA as a concert artist instrument. He chose the piano >because it's touch "invited" him to play. When I first checked it out, the >regulation was other than I thought was normal for a D. The key dip was at >3/8", and hammer blow was set such that the hammers were quite high above >the rest cushions. In all my wit and wisdom - even though he liked it that >way - I thought I would try deepening the key dip to .390, lowering the >hammer line, tweaking let-off, and thus giving him more power and bringing >the piano in line with what I thought (still think, according to the >Steinway manual) are normal parameters. WRONG! Although it regulated >well, the piano no longer "invited" him to play. > After a couple tries at reversing the process, the piano now invites him >to play again with the dip at 3/8", a "generous" let-off, and the hammers >1/2" above the rest cushions (I think blow ended up between 1 5/8 - 1 >3/4"). However, the bass hammers are brushing the pin block as the action >is pushed in, repetition is not what it should be, and on a very hard blow >there is a clicking/knocking sound that I believe is the jack slapping up >against the hammer flange because the wippen is so high. What can be done >about this situation? Does the stack need to be shimmed higher? The >"inviting" touch the pianist wants seems to require a shallow dip, but more >than a minimal amount of aftertouch. Any light you can shed on this would >be greatly appreciated. Thanks. >Jeff Stickney, RPT >University of Montana >jpage@selway.umt.edu David M. Porritt dporritt@swbell.net Meadows School of the Arts Southern Methodist University Dallas, TX 75275
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