Ric, I haven't heard of this guy but I do have experience with an action trick involving a strip of fabric placed in the action. Alicia de Larocca was coming to play with the Cincinnati Symphony a few years back to play the de Falla "Nights in the Garden of Spain" and I had heard that she preferred a light, very fast action with impeccable repetition to play this piece. On a tip from the NY Steinway guys in the basement I placed a strip of fairly thin fabric (muslim, I think) over the backrail felt. This simultaneously raised the hammerline a bit and made the keydip shallower which did indeed speed things up. I didn't have to do any other regulation. She loved it and thought I was a genius. I don't know if this will make an action feel lighter but it is conceivable to me that it might give that impression. I did have to pin some felt over the hammer rest cushions to make sure the jacks didn't trap. Eric Eric Wolfley, RPT Director of Piano Services College-Conservatory of Music University of Cincinnati -----Original Message----- From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Richard Brekne Sent: Tuesday, January 08, 2008 8:09 AM To: caut at ptg.org; pianotech at ptg.org Subject: [CAUT] Mikhail Pletnev What.... has no one even heard of this guy ?? Famous Russian pianist.... does all his recording sessions with some trick involving a strip of felt placed in the action. We are trying to figure out what he does. Not possible to get ahold of him and the only tech we know of that worked sessions with him has passed on. An English Tech from London of some note. Anyone heard of anything do to with this ? Ric
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