[pianotech] Yamaha Uprights

[David Love]

This can definitely be a problem and not just on Asian uprights.  Recently
had this on a new Schimmel upright.  Good regulation but the damper springs
were so strong that it really altered the touch response and double hitting
was common.  Adjusted the tension and the problem went away.  

 

In response to Ron's posting, while telling the pianist that they simply
have to push harder through let-off will solve the problem, as a pianist,
one should not have to think about pushing through let-off in order not to
get double hitting.  If the pianist is reacting to a dramatic change in the
touch resistance through the stroke enough to prevent or stop them from
pushing through let off, then there is something wrong with the regulation.
While I don't think changing the jack spring tension should even be
considered (I've never seen this as a cause of the problem and reducing the
tension there can prevent the jack from resetting properly), excess damper
spring tension can definitely create this problem.  Moreover, it can
negatively impact the overall feel of the action.  A similar problem can
happen when installing new grand back actions if you regulate the damper
under lever springs with very high tension to insure fast shut-off.  

 

The problem, of course won't be there when the damper pedal is in use.  One
way to test to see if that is the problem, in fact, is to depress the damper
pedal and hold it down while playing softly.  If the problem goes away then
the damper spring tension is the likely source. 

 

David Love

www.davidlovepianos.com

 

From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Dale Erwin
Sent: Saturday, December 01, 2012 3:37 PM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Yamaha Uprights

 

It is my opinion that the damper spring on all Asian uprights si to bloody
strong. There is no need and it does make the action heavy. 

 Check blow,key dip/travel/level,l.o. checking.

 If the spring loops are intact see regualtion. Otherwise, loops first, reg
after that.

Others said it better

Dale

Dale Erwin R.P.T.
Erwin's Piano Restoration Inc.
Mason & Hamlin/Steinway/U.S. pianos
www.Erwinspiano.com
Phone: 209-577-8397




 
How old a piano?
 
Back when I was doing dealer tuning on new Yamahas. this was very 
common, and always the same thing. The new owner, being unfamiliar with 
the piano, and/or new to music lessons, just wasn't completing the 
stroke. As they depressed the key, they would feel the damper pick up. 
Then, as they felt the additional resistance at the beginning of letoff 
as the jack tail contacted the letoff button, they'd let up and not push 
through letoff. The jack would then not clear the butt, and double 
striking was the guaranteed result. Once they were made aware of it and 
learned to complete the stroke to the bottom, the problem always 
magically disappeared.
 
You can screw up the action by weakening damper and jack springs and 
widening letoff to accommodate, but the best fix is teaching them how to 
work the action.
 
That's with a new or fairly new piano. If it's an older instrument 
that's badly out of regulation, start with that.
Ron N
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