[CAUT] keytops

[Stan Kroeker]

David,

At the request of a local jazz artist whose Steinway 'D' had the keys  
recovered with the 'generic' tops most of us use, I re-recovered them  
recently with the German tops from Pianotek.  This artist was  
convinced that there was a difference in the 'feel' of the generic  
replacements and genuine (Kluge?)  Steinway tops.

Although I was unconvinced (plastic is plastic?)  the new german tops  
really did feel different.  Seems to be a harder acrylic.  Whereas  
the generic tops seem to scratch quickly (they're often scuffed right  
out of the package), the german ones polished beautifully and were  
much more resistant to abrasion.

Best regards to all,

Stan Kroeker
Registered Piano Technician

On Mar 3, 2006, at 12:18 AM, David Ilvedson wrote:

> List,
>
> I tried a new set of keytops, for me, today...Kluge.  I usually use  
> Schaff's keytops...the Kluge were in connected sets of 7...C  
> through B.   Right off the bat I had to break the sets apart, which  
> was a pain...in fact until I figured out the secret (carefully  
> break from the tail until down to the front, then bend/break in  
> that plane), I broke one front and had to carefully fit that  
> together when gluing...after that I found (opposite of the Schaff  
> keytops) that the keytop front didnt' want to adhere to the front  
> of the key...in other words it didn't have any inherent pressure  
> towards the key's front surface.   With the Schaff, the angle of  
> the keytop front made the adhesion good but tended to push the  
> keytop up at the top front area and I'd get separation unless I  
> clamped.   The Kluge keytop fronts are apparently at 90 degrees to  
> the top.  I ended up using blue painters tape to come from the key  
> button stretched across the keytop and over the front and  
> underneath the key to apply pressure and keep the front against the  
> keys front surface...I hope this is clear?   At first I didnt' like  
> the difference but in retrospect I didn't have to clamp the keys,  
> the blue tape did the trick...
>
> Anyone else have any comments about Kluge...whatever...
>
>
> David Ilvedson, RPT
> Pacifica, California
>
>