[CAUT] Black on Black... (Jack alignment)

[Fred Sturm]

	Yes, I agree, a .5 mm difference in alignment (one jack that much  
farther forward than its neighbors, for example) is readily  
noticeable to a sensitive pianist (and that is the pianist we cauts  
are working for, or so I like to believe when I'm not in a cynical  
mood <G>). As is a difference in setup of all jacks of the same  
dimension. One of my piano profs recently complained about "lack of  
positive feel" on her piano. What had I done? Adjusted the jacks  
forward a bare smidgen, thinking it was too much resistance (letoff  
was too noticeable). I moved them back. She's happy.
	Now your everyday amateur probably won't notice that difference. And  
it only really shows up when everything is pretty well refined. But  
"everything being pretty well refined" is a function of obsessive  
attention to many details, of which this is just one. The total  
effect is VERY noticeable to just about anyone who can play a piano.  
So I don't like to take the attitude that something is "good enough  
for the average bloke." It's not that much harder to get every single  
unison dead on and solid on every single piano, to give a different  
example. And the total effect of that is very noticeable also.
Regards,
Fred Sturm
University of New Mexico
fssturm at unm.edu



On Aug 9, 2007, at 10:56 AM, Don Mannino wrote:

> Ed,
>
> As far as the disagreements go, I'll stay out of it.
>
> Based on your statement about pianists feeling jack alignment, I  
> must respectfully disagree.  Most pianists with reasonable skill  
> will feel .5mm misalignment, but will not be able to identify it as  
> such.  It is very important to be very even, although the exact  
> best location might be debatable.
>
> Don Mannino
>
> From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf  
> Of Ed Sutton
> Sent: Thursday, August 09, 2007 9:04 AM
> To: College and University Technicians
> Subject: Re: [CAUT] Black on Black... (Jack alignment)
>
> Tim and Fred-
>
> Let's see.
>
> You guys are disagreeing about the exact placement of 88 little  
> sticks in a 900 pound box.
>
> By the time you're done with your adjustments, the result may be  
> the same, or may even vary as much as .7mm!
>
> If there is a difference, probably 2 piano technicians in 300 could  
> feel it, maybe 1 pianist in 300.
>
> Sounds like a good topic for a Blood Feud!       ;-)
>
> When I think about the stuff other people do, I think we are pretty  
> lucky to be worrying about jack/knuckle alignment.
>
> Anyway, I am grateful for folks who are so passionate about this work.
>
> Ed Sutton
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