Steinway regulation

[Daniel Gurnee]

To CAUT and Jeff,

Humboldt State University in the '70s received two "D"s and two "B"s all
with a blow of 1 3/4" and a key dip of just two hairs deeper than 3/8", Just
barely feel it past a 3/8" dip block.

Daniel Gurnee RPT HSU Retired

> From: Jeff Stickney <jpage@selway.umt.edu>
> Reply-To: caut@ptg.org
> Date: Mon, 10 Apr 2000 09:15:07 -0600
> To: caut@ptg.org
> Subject: Steinway regulation
> 
> 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
> 
>