STRING COVER+FIRMER TOUCH

[Fenton Murray]

I've found that most all inexpensive small verticals need
re-weighting/balancing of the keys. Upgrading to a better piano or not, once
you have the procedure down, it is a couple hours work with minimal part
cost, and major improvement in touch. If I had to play on a You Name It
console, this is the one repair/upgrade I would consider worth while. This
is really going to help repetition and touch. Many of these pianos have
upweight of 12 to 15 grams, they just don't play well, the least bit of
friction and notes fail. These same skills become essential when working on
performance pianos, why not learn to drill and swage leads on a console and
make someone happy? Magzallia has an awesome press that makes the job fun.
Fenton
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "William R. Monroe" <pianotech at a440piano.net>
To: "Pianotech List" <pianotech at ptg.org>
Sent: Friday, March 09, 2007 1:04 PM
Subject: Re: STRING COVER+FIRMER TOUCH


> Brian,
>
> What is the piano you are considering doing this on???
>
> Do they really need balancing/reweighing of the keys, or a new piano?  If
> they are concerned about the child's pianistic development, don't put a
> band-aid on her sliced jugular vein.  If the piano is a PSO and not a
decent
> instrument, you might first encourage them to upgrade.  After all, finger
> strength is one thing, but if the piano isn't capable of dynamic
expression,
> or helping the child develop a sense of touch, what's the point in
> re-leading here?
>
> If you do end up installing leads, I'd recommend you look up Jiffy Leads
in
> the Schaff catalogue - then promptly forget they exist (for the most
part).
> If you are going to balance/reweight these keysticks, do it
professionally -
> drill & swage.  JMO.  I think the jiffy leads probably have a good use,
but
> I haven't found it yet.  ;-]
>
> Best,
> William R. Monroe
>
> > Please let me more about the Jiffy key leads.
> >
> > Thank you,
> >
> > Brian P. Doepke
> >
> > On all consoles and spinets which come through the shop
> > I install back lead. A good way to recycle leads removed
> > from grand action improvements. Mostly on the naturals
> > to effect a -6g FW to even the touch between the sharps and naturals.
> >
> > An alternate to drilling and swaging lead is to install Jiffy Key Leads.
> > -- 
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > Jon Page
>
>
>
>