Choosing Steinway D

[Lance Lafargue]

Is the blow distance about 1 7/8"? Dip should be about .396-.4 -ish.
Correct aftertouch is important.  Is key height close to spec?

Lance Lafargue, RPT
Mandeville, LA
New Orleans Chapter
lafargue@iamerica.net






-----Original Message-----
From: owner-pianotech@ptg.org [mailto:owner-pianotech@ptg.org]On Behalf
Of Kent Swafford
Sent: Wednesday, October 04, 2000 5:47 PM
To: pianotech@ptg.org
Subject: Re: Choosing Steinway D


on 10/3/00 4:30 PM, A440A@AOL.COM at A440A@AOL.COM wrote:

> Greetings,
> The first thing I would look at would be the let-off buttons.  If they are
> helter-skelter, something else in the action is, too.
> Are the keys really low, or high?  How close to the cushions are the
> hammershanks? You don't want them way up in the air, and you should
consider
> how much aftertouch is in that dip when you look at the shanks.
> Are there areas of excessive lacquer in the hammers?  How about the action
> shift, is it at the limit,one way or another?  Maybe really look at the
> bridge pins, are they all very even?
> Just a few thoughts,
> Ed Foote RPT

Hi Ed,

What is your analysis of a prospective piano whose shanks rest too far above
the cushions? In other words, what is the underlying problem which you
apparently think makes the piano undesirable? The underlying problem would
not be the high hammer line by itself since that can be easily adjusted -- I
take it you are suggesting that there is some reason why the hammer line
cannot be adjusted down to where it ought to be.

I am dealing with a new D like this now. Came in with keydip way over
"spec", blow distance way under "spec", and if one lowers the hammer line,
then the back of the hammer felts rebound against the backchecks way before
the shanks could get down to the cushions.

I know my thoughts on the matter. I would love to hear yours - perhaps yours
will be more, uh, civil than mine.  :)

Kent Swafford