Not really, Joe. I've experimented with both and simply weighting the keys does not do the same thing. It has long puzzled me why we laud the grand action because its return is gravity driven and then we work to take as much mass as possible out of the upright wippen. And hammerbutt, for that. Adding mass to the wippen body does improve the touch and feel of the vertical action. The wippen better tracks the motion of the key--indeed, as Dean wrote, the whole function of the action is improved. And it doesn't take much. It also helps, if there is room, to add a bit of mass to the catcher. And, of course, back off on the hammerbutt return springs. If you really want to get fancy go one step further and add some mass to the damper heads and back off on those springs as well. ddf Delwin D Fandrich Piano Design & Fabrication 6939 Foothill Court SW, Olympia, Washington 98512 USA Phone 360.515.0119 — Cell 360.388.6525 del at fandrichpiano.com — ddfandrich at gmail.com -----Original Message----- From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Joseph Garrett Sent: Friday, February 24, 2012 6:07 PM To: pianotech Subject: Re: [pianotech] Adding weight to Wurly Console action/keys ... It is my opinion, that the key weights alone, would be adequate. Given the ilk of the piano, it seems to be a lot more effort, than even I, would have done.<G> (I've been known to go to major extremes on lesser instruments, such a Over-Damper pianos.<G>) However, ya can't argue with success! I suspect the client is elated to have something that actually plays like a piano.<G> Best, Joe Joe Garrett, R.P.T. Captain of the Tool Police Squares R I
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