[pianotech] Fwd: Erwins key dip gauge

[PianoCare2]

Great topic and ideas.
That is what the Japanese are like. It is in their blood that they are so
particular in measurements. We have to accept their ideas, especially when
they are training us.
I haven't been to Yamaha in Hamamatsu however I completed the week long
Australian course in 2004. Here in OZ, Yamaha have given us Technician
numbers, and technicians have undergone training for these YT numbers.
The instructor here was very strict on all regulation dimensions. I will
always remember "key height, get it right". Also the use of the key dip
block. Technicians who have not completed the course laugh at the details
Yamaha want. It is Yamaha's way, and we were being trained by them.
I trained at Kawai in Hamamatsu and they have a different way of measuring
key height etc. It is their way, and to say "oh I do it my way" is not a way
of impressing these technicians. Key dip is performed slightly different
than Yamaha.
Another experience is Schimmel. I find their key dip block the easiest to
use. They also have an aftertouch test which I thought was great.
The different ideas mentioned of changing aftertouch is all correct
providing they are small changes, so it is the technicians prerogative to
use whatever technique he wants. Just remember to respect the company
representatives ideas. We have to learn to "save face" as well.
Regards
Brian Wilson
OZ

-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Richard Brekne
Sent: Sunday, 1 March 2009 5:35 AM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Fwd: Erwins key dip gauge

Ah... Now I see what you were getting at.

Haven't run into exactly this, tho at Hamamatsu they DID make a big 
point of measuring key height in this fashion. On the C2's we had I 
think it was 63 mm from keybed to underside of the key covering.  Dip 
however was checked with a 10 mm (or so) dip block with the front of the 
block flush with the front of the top of the key covering. That puts is 
a couple mm out in front of the key front.  I cant imagine running 
through 88 keys with one of those metal mm measuring sticks checking dip 
this way tho !  But it DOES remind me of my Japanese student colleagues 
and their measuring sticks.... and how greatful I was that I'd gone 
through L. Edwards aftertouch seminars and had such excellent fly by the 
seat of your pants toutalage from the likes of André and a couple others 
along the way.  Whilst the Japanese kids were using eons of time 
attempting to measure to the nth degree of accuracy using their various 
devices of precision... I let my eyeballs, touch, and knowledge of some 
basic action relationships whip me through the regulation part of our 
routines.... which ended up yielding as good or better scores then the 
others in our classes, and had alllll kinds of time left over to work on 
the voicing and tuning aspects of their training.  This was great for me 
as I got so very much good instruction about voicing issues whilst there 
because I actually had the time on my hands to work through and get 
feedback from the instructors. Stock Yamaha hammers for smaller grands 
are a bit different to work with then some of these wonderful new high 
quality sets we can get now... but they do serve as a good learning 
set.... at least under that kind of supervision.

Cheers
RicB



    Ok, Since nobody solved the mystery question of where or how does
    one measure the dip/key travel...

    At red School house in 1976 we were instructed to measure the total
    key dip/travel from the under side of the key cover with a metric
    ruler.. It's a great visual reference point. Later, I discovered for
    myself that I didn't like 10mm & preferred 10.5 instead
    When using my gauge the measurement of .390 which again, is measured
    at slightly in front of the pin will yield a ruler reading result at
    the front of the key of 10.5mm. But I no longer have to get
    bi-focal's & headlamps to try to read the little tiny numbers on the
    ruler. It's a gauge that is a magnifying glass not a microscope but
    its pretty dang close.
    Dale






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