[pianotech] Advice about intermittent note on Yamaha grand

David Love davidlovepianos at comcast.net
Sat Feb 13 16:14:13 MST 2010


Do you think the comments below were dismissive?  I don't and it they
certainly weren't intended that way.  I don't know Mr. Finley or whether he
is an experience tech or a pianist just wondering about the mechanics of the
instrument but gleaned some level of experience from the way the question
was asked.  Walking someone through a step by step procedure as they try
each potential solution is a bit beyond the scope of what can reasonably be
accomplished here especially, as you see, when even the experienced techs
are throwing out solutions that may or may not address the problem.   That
was my point.  But all questions are encouraged even if the answer is to go
find a more experienced tech to help solve the problem, something, btw, that
we've all done at one time or another.   Let me also say that I always
encourage pianists to increase their knowledge about their instrument.
Honestly, I'm often shocked at how little pianists know about the instrument
that they often spend countless hours at each day.   

 

That being said the PTG website lists pianotech as a discussion list among
hundreds of piano technicians.  It is reasonable to assume then that those
participation expect that the questions are coming from other technicians.
If you are not a technician and want to pose a question that's fine with me
but it's probably best to say that otherwise a certain level of knowledge
may be assumed and you may not get the response you were hoping for.
Personally, I might be inclined to answer a question coming from a layperson
in a different way than coming from a technician and I am often in that
situation when giving presentations to, say, piano clubs attended by
pianists, not piano technicians.   That's not an issue of condescension but
in couching the answer in familiar and perhaps non-technical language.   It
is helpful if the person answering the question knows their audience.  The
same goes for the person asking it.  

 

David Love

www.davidlovepianos.com

 

From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of John Dever
Sent: Saturday, February 13, 2010 2:29 PM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Advice about intermittent note on Yamaha grand

 

I guess you never quite know who you are talking to. Assumptions are a funny
thing...
 
I am not a tech but read this site every day (several times a day). It is
interesting that from time to time some "techs" can get fairly dismissive
towards those that ask questions. 
 
It is impressive to me that quite a few piano players seek to find out what
makes their particular piano tick and are willing to ask the required
questions. Of course that puts them out there and open to criticism - often
unwarranted.
 
Sometimes patience with the layman that are working through their particular
problem is in order. Not everyone knows what seasoned techs know. Of course
that's why they are on this forum asking their questions...
 
JD
 

 
> From: davidlovepianos at comcast.net
> To: pianotech at ptg.org
> Date: Sat, 13 Feb 2010 13:55:51 -0800
> Subject: Re: [pianotech] Advice about intermittent note on Yamaha grand
> 
> Robert:
> 
> As you can see a note not repeating could be several different things from
a
> weak repetition spring to a poorly aligned jack, a poorly regulated
> balancier, tight jack center. First the note needs to have the regulation
> checked completely. If you are not a tech and can't do that then best to
> hire someone and ask them what they did. Over time you'll learn what to do
> on your own. 
> 
> David Love
> www.davidlovepianos.com
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On
Behalf
> Of Dean May
> Sent: Saturday, February 13, 2010 11:39 AM
> To: pianotech at ptg.org
> Subject: Re: [pianotech] Advice about intermittent note on Yamaha grand
> 
> Hi Robert
> 
> It sounds to me like there is a friction problem in one of the action
> centers, likely the jack center. If you depress the heel of the jack, make
> sure it is resetting quickly to a rest position similar to the other
jacks.
> If it is a little slow then there's your problem. 
> 
> Dean
> 
> Dean W May (812) 235-5272
> 
> PianoRebuilders.com (888) DEAN-MAY
> 
> Terre Haute IN 47802
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On
Behalf
> Of rsfinley at charter.net
> Sent: Saturday, February 13, 2010 1:58 PM
> To: pianotech at ptg.org
> Subject: [pianotech] Advice about intermittent note on Yamaha grand
> 
> I have been having a problem with one of the keys, C6, on my Yamaha baby
> grand piano. The note sometmes sounds and sometimes doesn't. If I play the
> note repeatedly, quickly, it sometimes stops sounding. If I give it a rest
> and then play it, it usually sounds again. When it stops sounding, the
> hammer is not propelled as far as the string. 
> 
> I took the action out to inspect it and to compare it with the action of
the
> surrounding keys. It seems that when the note is played, the tip of the
jack
> doesn't protrude through the slot in the repetition lever as much as for
the
> other keys. I guess the tip of the jack has to stick through the slot a
> certain amount to engage the hammer knuckle, in order to thrust the hammer
> towards the string, and it is just on the point of not being far through
> enough. 
> 
> Please could you suggest what the solution might be? If I turn the Letoff
> regulating screw so that the letoff button is lower, I think it might
cause
> the tip of the jack to stick through the slot in the repetition a a little
> further because the jack toe will engage the letoff button punching across
a
> shorter distance than before, making it more certain that the note will
> sound. Would this be the correct thing to adjust or is there another
> alternative? (I didn't examine the knuckle to see if it is worn or if
there
> is a deep groove in it. It seemed to be OK)
> 
> Thank you very much for your help. 
> 
> Robert Finley
> 

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