> From: John Ross <jrpiano at win.eastlink.ca> > Date: March 11, 2010 10:59:12 PM EST .... > The fact that they apparently do not work on a console, does create a dilemma. > I used to use the previous ones, on both console and the full size actions. > The spinet ones, probably won't be long enough for the console sized action. John, I am a little confused by this paragraph. Spinet pianos usually have more-or-less full sized actions (I'm imagining, say, an acrosonic); they usually dropped that action down far enough to put full sized parts in. Console pianos typically have compressed actions. That's my understanding and experience, anyhow; I'm sure that someone will correct me if I'm wrong. ;-) So, the larger jack spring should fit in both full sized actions and spinets, while the smaller spring goes into the console. I have noticed that sometimes the supply houses call smaller parts "spinet" parts, but I usually end up putting those parts in consoles. While it is true that you could fit a larger spring into a compressed action, it would be stronger than intended, which would cause increased resistance during the letoff phase of the action cycle (that's what happened in the console with a compressed action that I wrote about, with additional and more severe problems caused by the newer springs bending all over the place), and a louder "thwack" when the jack returns under the butt. Without addressing the newer springs that you inquired about, I feel that it is best to carry both sizes of traditional springs. > It was mentioned in an earlier e-mail that the new design will last longer. > I don't believe long life was a problem with the old design, that I have been using since 1975, with no call backs. Probably every tech on this list has looked with amazement at actions that had broken jack springs, unglued jack flanges, walked-out center pins, and a host of other problems yet still functioned adequately (er, adequately if you squint a little). I am frequently filled with admiration for the original designers of the upright piano action; it is extremely robust and fault-tolerant. I think that the old springs, which might break after many years, are durable enough for me. That's not to say that I don't applaud innovation and creative thinking. In fact, I will get a set of the newer springs and experiment with giving them a chance in a full-sized upright action. > Do the newer springs fit the wippens with no problem? I have never had a problem installing the older design with a pair of tweezers, > not even removing the action for the odd replacement. The new springs seemed to fit both the wippen hole and the hole in the jack tender bottom just fine. That didn't stop the tech who installed them from abundantly gluing them in place. Grrr...no fun getting them out. Joe DeFazio Pittsburgh -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://ptg.org/pipermail/pianotech.php/attachments/20100314/149b585b/attachment.htm>
This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC