[pianotech] Adding weight to Wurly Console action/keys

[Joseph Garrett]

Del,
I think you missed my point, just a bit. If the piano, in question, were an
Ivers & Pond or Mason & Hamlin Upright, then I could see the justification.
On a Wurlitzer?  
Of course, I'd be the first to say: If the client is willing to throw money
at me/the piano, who am I to refuse it."<G>
I do agree to all that you say as improving the playability with those
additions. I've done them and seen the good results. It's a lot of labor,
that should have been done at the factory, but we all know that is not the
real world.<G> 
I must say it's nice to know that there are others that are as crazy as I,
in this regard.
Best,
Joe


> [Original Message]
> From: Delwin D Fandrich <del at fandrichpiano.com>
> To: <joegarrett at earthlink.net>; <pianotech at ptg.org>
> Date: 2/24/2012 7:02:58 PM
> Subject: RE: [pianotech] Adding weight to Wurly Console action/keys
>
> 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
>