STRING COVER+FIRMER TOUCH

[David Andersen]

Right on, brother.  I'd love it if you describe your protocol in  
detail, along with pictures if you can. This is the kind of stuff  
that's relatively easy to do, and makes you into an instant hero with  
the grateful client. Which is the best word-of-mouth marketing win  
you can have. No wonder you're doin' so well, Fentone.
xoxxoDA

On Mar 9, 2007, at 10:16 PM, Fenton Murray wrote:
> 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
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>