[CAUT] Shimming the Steinway Action stack to reach the strings

[Chris Solliday]

And Andrew as you know the action still must fit into the cavity, so unless you also want to install a new set of extra long bored hammers there will be a limit to how much you can accomplish, but you should be able to make an improvement. It would help to know what the key dip is and how much aftertouch there is and how far off the hammer rest cushions the shanks are. The Ratio is at issue here.
Chris Solliday, RPT
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Chris Solliday 
  To: caut at ptg.org 
  Sent: Friday, February 26, 2010 2:58 PM
  Subject: Re: [CAUT] Shimming the Steinway Action stack to reach the strings


  String Height minus Hammer Bore equals Shank Center Pin Height. We use laminated shim stock that we get from the local hobby store. Realize that just raising the pin height MIGHT work, but consider the arc of the hammer blow. You could end up with the hammer over centering if you simply raise the feet under the hammer flange pins. You need to imagine the pin in space and rotate the stack around it so that the stike point ends up at ninety degrees to the string. It might not be that now. Usually this means shimming the front foot slightly as well. Best of luck Andrew.
  Chris Solliday, RPT

    ----- Original Message ----- 
    From: Andrew Anderson 
    To: caut at ptg.org 
    Sent: Friday, February 26, 2010 12:45 PM
    Subject: Re: [CAUT] Shimming the Steinway Action stack to reach the strings


    Yes, mea culpa.  Wasn't really thinking the numbers...most likely 2"+ 


    On Feb 26, 2010, at 11:30 AM, reggaepass at aol.com wrote:




        The school whose Steinways I service is not satisfied with the dealer's warranty fix (greater then 1" blow distance).
      Andrew, 


      Not sure what you mean by this ("greater then 1" blow distance").  Did you mean greater than 2" (since it sounds like the strings are too high)?


      Alan Eder





      -----Original Message-----
      From: Andrew Anderson <andrew at andersonmusic.com>
      To: College and University Technicians <caut at ptg.org>
      Sent: Fri, Feb 26, 2010 9:13 am
      Subject: [CAUT] Shimming the Steinway Action stack to reach the strings


      The school whose Steinways I service is not satisfied with the dealer's warranty fix (greater then 1" blow distance). They are requesting that the piano be made to play like it should which will require shimming the stack so it is within reach of the strings (>1/4" between fully backed out drop-screws and pinblock). 
       
      Has anyone done this? What was the scope of work required? What is a reasonable amount of time to complete the work? 
       
      Thanks 
      Andrew Anderson 


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