Replacement Keys?

[John Minor]

	The piano is a D that suffers from "power loss" on some notes. In
some instances, the harder you hit the key, the less sound you get! So, I
pull the action and check to see if the tails are hanging up on the
backchecks. I notice an unusual amount of flex in the key itself. Upon
close inspection I see the balance rail buttons have been replace with
what looks like poplar, not a strong wood. Some of the buttons "give" when
you attempt to flex the key by pushing down on the key front while holding
the hammer down, or holding the back of the key down. I think the keys
have lost their strength and would like to test my theory by having a new
set of keys made. The theory applies to concert instruments that are older
and may have seen many years of heavy usage. I believe wood can fatigue
when stressed to it's limits repeatedly.

John Minor
University of Illinois



On Tue, 6 Mar 2001, Avery Todd wrote:

]John & List,
]
]I have 2 Kluge keyboards (one in bone) from Kluge through the
]Rappaport's on complete rebuilding jobs. Both seem to be fine,
]although the bone is beginning to yellow considerably and I'm
]not sure yet how to "whiten" them up some.
]
]I'm curious as to why you're replacing the keys. Really old
]and in bad shape? The reason I'm asking is I'm going to have
]to do something in the near future about the keyboard on our
]Hamburg D. It's only about 18 yrs. old or so but the ivories
]are getting very thin and sharp edged in the front and the
]edges of the sharps are more rounded than a lot of people
]like.
]
]Because of the age, I've considered sending them to be
]recovered rather than replace the whole keyboard. However, if
]they were recovered, I'd definitely want someone who could do
]a really top notch job!
]
]Also, how do the prices compare between Kluge and Bob. Just
]curious.
]
]Opinions? Recover or replace? Thanks.
]
]Avery
]
]>I'd like to have a set of replacement keys made for one of our D's and
]>wondered if anyone could steer me in the right direction. I know Pianotek
]>does keys, as well as Kluge. Anyone have experience with either of these?
]>
]>Thanks
]>
]>John Minor
]>University of Illinois
]