Celeste n'aimaient

[REALPIANOS@aol.com]

Hi List,and Joel,
    I just got back on the list, normally I'm a lurk and learner and have
never posted anything  prior,  but may be able to help a little on this
celeste subject.
    I have "regulated" several for my brother (Ayers Percussion Rental in
N,Y,C,) They were Mustels not Schiedmayer, I believe that Carrol's instrument
rental in N,Y,C, are the U.S. distributers for them.
    I really don't know how to explain how to regulate a celeste  except to
treat it as a crude mechanical device that follows loosly the same principals
as a piano .  Everything to be straight to the strike surface, with even
touch, etc.  You really have to wing it on these things and use your piano
skills to sometimes invent ways of doing things.  -But to keep in mind that
they are pretty crude at best, compared to the kind of tolerances we deal
with in piano actions .
    I started from the ground up on a few, rehung the bars, refelted the
balance and front rails, I had to reinforce the keybed, it actually would
give a little on hard blows. (no I didn't use test blows to tune - I did'nt
have to tune it,  :-).
    Consider there is no letoff,  the hammers are just thrown down onto the
bars.  And you just need to get them to do that evenly. :-)  Assuming you
have the key height and depth uninform, (depth needs experimentation)
-regulate the butt/shank/hammers to be at the same angle at rest (blow), via
the top of the "sticker".(back of key).  Then press key down and hold down
hard,  you obviously don't want the hammer to block against the bar,,, you
have 3 choices the metal flange at the butt, can be put in or out for I'm
assuming "fine reg," or the top of the sticker, or key depth.
   Oh well was that of any use ?
   All of the ones I worked on seemed only somewhat nice when done,  but I
got reports back that they were well received at some impressive venues.
 So,,,
to me that means that not much is expected from these crude little
"instruments"
                                      Good Luck,

                                              Tom Ayers
P,S,  Advice- get celeste up off the floor when you work on it,, you'll be
bending over ALOT.