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

[Barbara Richmond]

Re: [CAUT] Black on Black... (Jack alignment)Hi Fred,

Thanks for the explanation.  I'll take you word for it, but I'll still have to give it a try to prove it to myself.  ;-)

This thread came up at an interesting time for me, since I've been working on a S&S B that the owner complained of what you would describe as "positive" feeling--or too much of it.  So speaking in terms of positive or not, is really helpful.  This is the first time I've had a pianist complain of such.   When I went to pick up the action to rebush keys and make various repairs, the pianist complained of heaviness in the action. I asked her to show me the notes that were the worst, and to me, they were the notes that were regulated the best.  Well, that was a strange feeling...

BTW, I adjust jacks seated (or standing) by the ends of the action.  I didn't know there was any other way!  In the bass, pressing down on the rep lever with my left hand to see where the jack is, making the adjustment with my right.  After making the adjustment I release and have a second look to make sure everything is where it should be.  As I work, I flip up the hammers to get them out of the way.    It's easy to glance through the action to see the tool going in for the correct screw.  After getting half way, I work from the treble end--yeah, my left hand has to use the tool, but I can do it.  Using an action caddy (I love that thing!) makes this operation especially easy, minimizing the amount of time I have to stand and lean over the action.  It goes pretty fast.

Thanks much!

Barbara Richmond, RPT
near Peoria, Illinois
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Fred Sturm 
  To: caut 
  Sent: Friday, August 10, 2007 6:55 PM
  Subject: Re: [CAUT] Black on Black... (Jack alignment)


  On 8/9/07 4:07 PM, "Barbara Richmond" <piano57 at insightbb.com> wrote:


    Well, this thread took an interesting turn while I was away from home.  

    Fred, tell me about moving those jacks on a well-regulated/lubed piano.  Is that "all" you did?  I mean, you couldn't just move 'em back and be done. I've never tried it--you had to go through everything again (right?).  I would be interested in knowing what changes to aftertouch you might have had to make as a result of it.  Of course, I could go experiment on my piano...but it's easier to ask.  :) 

    Thanks,

    Barbara Richmond, RPT


  Hi Barbara,
      Actually, advancing jack alignment doesn't affect aftertouch. It does affect simultaneity of drop/jack tender contact a bit. Why doesn't it affect aftertouch? Well, though the tender will contact the regulating button earlier, it will still get the jack to the point of letoff at exactly the same point in key travel, and exactly the same relative to the string. So you can actually nudge it (the jack line) back or forward a bit without doing anything else if you want to, and not be caught by the regulation police. 
      Moving all the jacks less than or maybe up to 1 mm will have a very minor affect on that letoff/jack simultaneous touch, but I don't think it is enough to really feel in isolation. You can fool with all three - letoff, drop and alignment - to come up with an effect, of more or less obvious feel of the letoff part of key travel. Less drop and alignment forward makes for less obvious feel. So does increasing letoff a tad and leaving the others the same. Increasing drop and/or decreasing letoff means more positive feel, but with decreasing letoff you decrease aftertouch, which partly negates the positive feel thing (more aftertouch also means a more "positive feel).
      It's kind of a balancing act, but when you are in a pretty sweet spot, you can make minor adjustments without really redoing everything. Does that answer your question, or just make it more confusing?
  Regards,
  Fred Sturm
  University of New Mexico 

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