Drop

[Isaac OLEG]

Depending of the playing, I consider 2 kind of repetition :

Repetition from the bottom of the key stroke, that should be available
as soon as possible as the key is released (used in the less strong
levels of tone, and in all weight based techniques).

Fast repetition in Forte playing, or staccato notes where the key is
totally released, and the hammer is then allowed to go back and
rebound on the cushion rest, the synchronization between the rebound
of the hammer and the speed of the remaining elements allow for more
strength and more speed.
(Used in techniques based on articulation and force, i.e. the impulse
given by the opening of the ankle when playing, and that, used to the
extreme have the pianist almost jumping from its seat).


Depending of the hardness of the rest cushion the level of the shank
may vary then . Anyway if the shank is too far from the rest, the
hammer is compressing the system  too much and the jack can't go back
in place at some speeds so I'd say that repetition is not helped in
this situation.

The drop screw when correctly positioned allow the jack to stay in
contact with the roller all along since aftertouch. That is what gives
that very special look and feel of the drop when we are regulating it.
There is indeed no other way to have a clear notch an optimum control
on the tone, that to have the 3 moments of contact happening together

Often on recent pianos, the rest cushion of the jack compress after
some playing, and the drop moment is delayed, it is necessary then to
have back the jack in place aligned under the roller, the drop leather
may well compress a bit too, so the lever cushion allowing for a
larger jack's clearance than necessary.

Regards.

Isaac OLEG




Izaak OLEG


> -----Message d'origine-----
> De : pianotech-bounces@ptg.org
> [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org]De la
> part de Richard Brekne
> Envoye : lundi 4 novembre 2002 20:08
> A : Pianotech
> Objet : Re: Drop
>
>
> A440A@aol.com wrote:
>
> > Bradley  writes:
> > >This is what I have noticed:
> > >
> > >-A small amount of drop will lessen the "feel" of
> aftertouch, and a larger
> > >amount will increase the "feel" of aftertouch.
>
> agreed,
>
> >
> > >-A larger amount of drop will increase the chances of
> the hammers checking
> > >properly, which also allows for springs to be set
> slightly higher.
>
> hmmm.
>
> >
> > > -A small amount of drop will slightly increase
> repetition (i.e., the jack
> > >can slip under the knuckle with less return of the key).
>
> Suppose this is right...tho I have always thought of this
> as << the less the jack
> travels after reaching escapement, the less distance it has
> to return >>
>
> >
> > > Any more advice?
> >
> >    The "feel" of aftertouch might be increased by
> increasing the amount of
> > work that goes into it, but if you are feeling the hammer
> dropping after
> > let-off, understand that that is not what you feel in
> playing, (where the
> > hammer is rebounding into the back-check).
> >     If the checking is dependant on the amount of drop,
> you have something
> > terribly askew in your hammertail/backcheck organization.
>
> Agreed. And personally, I have to say I have always felt I
> could get away with a
> stronger rep spring with higher drop, and with higher check
> as far as that goes.
> If checking is a problem because of too strong a rep
> spring... then the whip
> spring is way stronger then I would ever set it anyways. I
> find pianists dont
> allow for much push in the key from whip rep springs.... so
> you dont have a lot
> you can get away with to begin with.
>
> >
> >     Setting the springs higher than what it takes to lift
> the hammers as fast
> > as possible without feeling the recoil will gain you
> virtually nothing in
> > repetition speed,(unless there is something else wrong
> that excessive spring
> > is making up for).
>
> Hmm...dont know if I buy this Ed. I find I can get rapid
> fire repetition if I
> push that as far as I can get away with. Perhaps you might
> be so kind as to give
> your complete list of ingredients in your "fastest fire"
> recipie. :) Maybe I'm
> missing something.
>
> >
> >    The amount of drop is the amount of resistance the
> pianist will have to
> > work through to achieve escapement.  The greater it is,
> the more of the
> > keystroke's last bit of control must be done under spring
> pressure, and this
> > has an effect on how controllable let-off is.
>
> Never thought of it this way... now you done and put
> something for me to ponder
> on for the evening.... grin.
>
> >
> > Regards,
> > Ed Foote RPT
>
> btw... didnt somebody say something to the effect recently
> that repetition speed
> was somehow dependant on how far the hammer blow distance
> left the shank from the
> rest cushion ? Went by so fast I didnt get time to react
> really, but isnt
> "repetition" supposed to happen way before the hammer gets
> even close to the
> cushion ?. Anyone care to comment on that one ?
>
>
> --
> Richard Brekne
> RPT, N.P.T.F.
> UiB, Bergen, Norway
> mailto:rbrekne@broadpark.no
> http://home.broadpark.no/~rbrekne/ricmain.html
>
>
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