[CAUT] lighter touchweight

[Jeff Farris]

Ric,

Yeah, actually the bass mostly has three leads and not all in the 
front. Just a few keys had four leads. It is clearly, IMO, a case of 
just wanting something good to be better. I'm not familiar enough 
with the Stanwood system to get all the measurements people have 
mentioned.  I think I'll try the strip trick!

Thanks,
Jeff

>Hi Jeff
>
>The strip behind the balance rail pins is just a quick variant of 
>the half punching trick.  Yes, alone it will raise the keys a very 
>slight amount. Not enough to worry about in the first instance since 
>it is just as quickly removed.  You can quickly assess whether a bit 
>of added leverage will please your player this way.  If this does 
>the trick for him/her... then you can adjust your leverage 
>permanently in the way that you feel is best.
>
>Interesting case study you have posed so far I have to say.  You 
>give us very acceptable UW / DW parameters, a piano response tonal 
>wise the pianist likes, an action that is both finely regulated and 
>well groomed with very low friction levels.... and the pianist wants 
>it lighter.... I'm reallllly curious as to what a Stanwood SW ratio 
>on this instrument would turn out to be,  and in particular how 
>heavy the front weights and strike weights are.  You say four leads 
>in the bass... ? big leads and all close to the front of the key 
>?... or smaller and back towards the middle ?
>
>Course it could just be a case of a pianist who just plain likes a 
>very light touch....  In which case you are going to have trouble 
>keeping your UW's from dropping too low.  22 grams static is my 
>absolute bottom line personally and really I go for a minimum of 24.
>
>Cheers
>RicB
>
>
>    Thanks. I am familiar with the touch/tone relationship. Once a little
>    juicing made a player feel like it was a little lighter.  This guy is
>    quite an accomplished jazz player. He loves the warm tone and doesn't
>    want any hammer work to change the tone. The hammers were filed not
>    too long ago. They are tapered nicely. Keypins and capstans have been
>    polished and lubed. Key bushings are in good shape.  I have never
>    heard of this technique mentioned by others of putting a thin strip
>    of paper or felt punching behind the balance rail pin. Wouldn't that
>    affect key height?  Or this is just as a test?
>
>    Thanks again to all,
>
>    Jeff


-- 
Jeff Farris
Piano Technician
School of Music
UT Austin
mailto; jfarris at mail.utexas.edu
512-471-0158