Thanks Rob, Did you just decide on one capstan location that worked, plugged the holes, run a straight line down the keys, drill on a drill press, and screw the capstans back in? How long did it take? If I may ask, what did you charge for this. I've never done it. I appreciate the "Been there" help. Lance Lafargue, RPT New Orleans Chapter Covington, LA. lafargue@iamerica.net ---------- > From: atonal@planet.eon.net > To: pianotech@ptg.org > Subject: Re: bobbling hammers-1993 Kranich&Bach > Date: Friday, February 06, 1998 1:51 AM > > > From: DGPEAKE@aol.com > > Date: Wed, 4 Feb 1998 23:50:30 EST > > To: pianotech@ptg.org > > Subject: Re: bobbling hammers-1993 Kranich&Bach > > Reply-to: pianotech@ptg.org > > > Dear List, > > I GIVE UP! I've been trying to help a customer of mine who bought a cheap > > Kranich & Bach (made in Europe, 1993, sold by Baldwin) 42" upright. This > > piano had double striking or bobbling hammers when I first saw it. To be > > brief and to the point; I added let-off distance and dip, still some > > bobbling on soft blows, added more, still bobbling at times, then I added > > key height/dip, adjusted checking, and unless you are VERY deliberate and > > get to the very end of each key stroke, IT STILL DOES IT occasionally. > > Maker won't help, they said (basically) that's what you get for buying a > > cheap piano. Now, the piano is no fun to play and you still get the > > occasional bobble if you're not careful. > > > > I have come across this problem hundreds of times over the years and have > > always been able to regulate it out, but I can't seem to get this one to > > stop without regulating it out of the comfort zone. I remember some > > Samicks and Yamahas in the low tenor had this problem due to the angle of > > the surface on the butt where the jack contacts. Any ideas? Thanks very > > much! > > Lance Lafargue, RPT > > New Orleans Chapter > > Covington, LA. > > > > Lance, > > First off, these Kranich Backaches are Chinese-made, with all kinds > of wonderful promises made inside regarding Dehonit pinblocks > (doesn't sound like Delignit does it?) Royal George felt hammers, and > German Scale designers. Remember the early '80's Samicks to hit the > continent..... they looked awfully familiar. > Secondly, you're not gonna get these to regulate into the "comfort > zone" because as far as I can tell, they were never intentionally > designed that way. However, I have had some luck pulling, plugging > and re-drilling key capstans, as I find that they are usually > installed (crookedly, I might add) too far back in relationship to > the wippen heel. Two problems arise out of the stock capstan > arrangement: 1) Touch is incredibly heavy 2) Regulation is a > nightmare i.e.: bobbling hammers, no aftertouch, excessive keydip > (you can lose fingers between keys if you're not careful) not to > mention sluggish key return. Once you have centered the capstans > under the wippen heel, I found that regulation began to fall into > place. I had to compromise on excessive key dip to gain some > aftertouch, but at least the $%^#@ thing would catch the hammers > regularly. I have moved a set of capstans and re-regulated and > billed Baldwin for the work, they paid, but in the form of a dealer > credit (as I work for a Baldwin dealer). No problems there, as long > as this is understood by the dealer. > > No Fun 8-( > > Been There, > Rob Kiddell, > Registered Piano Technician, PTG > atonal@planet.eon.net
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