[pianotech] pianotech Digest, Vol 12, Issue 11

[David Love]

Yeah, it's window dressing but it adds to the appearance like filling the
chips in the plate before you spray the new lacquer, taking time to do a
neat job on the lettering, squaring the notches in the new keytops,
carefully laying out the bridge and setting the bridge pins to uniform
height, etc., etc.  If you're doing this instead of making fitting the
pinblock properly then your priorities are messed up but I think there is
something to be said for the look of quality craftsmanship and I always aim
for it.  BTW, you don't have to mess with tuning pins to align beckets,
there's a very simple and fast procedure for measuring when you cut the wire
that gets everything lined up with no extra time or effort.  Why not.
Whether it's 2.5 or 3 coils who cares, not important.  Personally, I string
the top treble with 4 coils and the rest of the piano with 3.  Why you ask?
Well the top treble needs less torque which also makes it easier to make
fine adjustments to the pin.  Having 4 coils raises the pin out of the block
just slightly without getting the string any higher off the plate and
creating additional flagpolling.  Small thing, probably doesn't make that
much difference but then so is adding little bits of lead to hammer molding
to get the SWs smooth.  

David Love
www.davidlovepianos.com


-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Israel Stein
Sent: Thursday, October 01, 2009 8:49 PM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] pianotech Digest, Vol 12, Issue 11


>
>
> Jon Page wrote:
>>> I personally prefer 2.5 coils to 3 or more, and becket alignment is a
>>> non-performance cosmetic concern
>>
>> Craftsmanship is an important aspect of this work. Sloppy does not 
>> cut it.
>
> Who's call? Why does 2.5 turn coils and not precisely aligned beckets 
> constitute sloppy work? Is that sort of superficial stuff what 
> rebuilding is about?
>
>  Ron N
Ron,

I'm with you 100% here. Back when I was training for this in Boston the 
instruictor used to mock those "rebuilders" who would take the time to 
line up beckets - but not bother to properly fit the pinblock or had no 
idea how to regulate an action or no concept of touchweight. Waste of 
time, in my book. It seems to be an easy way to show a client how 
"professional" and "meticulous" the workmanship is - the beckets are all 
lined up! Window dressing, as far as I am concerned. Of course, if a 
quality rebuilder wants to take the time to screw around with tuning 
pins to line up the beckets - it's their choice. I can think of better 
ways to spend my time and the client's money...

Israel Stein