Acute KSD*

[Conrad Hoffsommer]

At 10:14 12/6/2002 -0600, you wrote:
>*KSD is a TLA for "Key Schlump Disease"
>
>Patient is a Baldwin 6000
>
>Key height gone all weird with areas of "schlumped" keys giving the keys a 
>scalloped look up and down the keyboard--like a shallow sine wave. It's 
>not individual keys, but groups of maybe 8-10 keys involved.
>
>Bed does not appear warped, from underneath. No visible damage under the 
>keys. No critters have eaten the punchings. No foreign objects on or under 
>the key rest felt. Owner says the problem has been getting worse.
>
>I was all set to just go level those keys and reregulate but afraid I'm 
>overlooking the real disease ...
>
>Anyone???
>
>Alan Barnard
>Stumped in Salem, MO


Haven't done a 6000, but if I saw that on a 243 I'd say it sounds like the 
key level adjusting screws are in need of adjusting. The ones which raise 
the balance rail are probably set or somehow wandered low.   Is there a lot 
of slap/woody noise playing hard?

Pick up an octave or two of keys and look for the screws.  Loosen the ones 
you see and raise the ones at the bottom of those holes until the keys are 
approximately level, then snug the visible (down-adjust) screws just so it 
doesn't slap.  Tightening them too much will cause the original symptom.

Good luck!



Conrad Hoffsommer - Music Technician
Luther College, 700 College Dr., Decorah, Iowa 52101-1045
Vox-(563)-387-1204 // Fax (563)-387-1076(Dept.office)

-The only substitute for good manners is fast reflexes.