This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment I've just been nominated as the secretary of key leveling. Haven't been = confirmed yet, but I must tell you that the written questions could be = construed as the politics of personal destruction. No! I don't hire = illegals to do my key leveling. It might be a good idea, though. I = could always count on a pardon if I can get the right attorney. I'm a devout divider, not a uniter, so it is no surprise that I might = disagree. Just joking , of course. Yes, I market a key leveling system, not really a device. I've given several local technicals about key leveling and I always wait = for the question or comment " S &S crowns their keys by 1/16 so your = system won't work" Here's my scripted response. "Steinway seems to = think that since the center is played more that after awhile the keys = will be level. That sounds impressive at first, but after giving it = some thought=20 You realize that misadjusting something hoping that wear will correct it = is wishful thinking. I've concluded that it's really a dumb thing to = do. However if you think Steinway knows more about it than I do, what = can I say? That was before I knew why they do that. I had a long discussion with = Kevin Stock of s&s and he explained that they crown the keybed by maybe = 1/16 or so (not really a fixed amount). Then the keyframe is reverse = crowned a similar amount, so that when the action is clamped with the = cheek blocks there will be a spring loaded contact between the two for = reliable key bedding. That is the only reason for the crown. I still = think it is a dumb idea. Maybe that's one of the bright ideas that = causes the Steinways to bring prices three times what other quality = pianos do. No other pianos that I know of use that feature. Now if you can visualize what we have here, If you clamp the Steinway = action to a flat table and level the keys anyway you like, when you put = it in the piano and TaDa!! it has the same crown as the keybed = automatically. Yes I'll admit you may have to touch up the level after = it's in the piano, but it's less work than if you weren't close to start = with. Really now, isn't it a little silly to crown both surfaces when = just the key frame would have done the job? Gotta justify that extra = cost you know. Advertising has to finesse the uninformed somehow. I'll tell you a little about my system. First, I've heard every idea in = the book about how to prop up the end keys. None of them work. They = may be fool proof, but fools are so ingenious your mileage may vary. I = bore a hole just in front of the green punching of note 1 and 88 with a = no. 18 drill and screw in a capstan. This will adjust the reference and = won't move. The straight edge is a 48 inch aluminum scale. (Sorry Tom = Cole , its not steel) I cut 1/4 inch off each end since some keyboards = are less than 48 inches. Some are almost 49. Slots in the end of the = straight edge allow you to adjust the end blocks to fit. A double sticky = block of wood is put on the end keys to position the bar over the front = rail pins. This insures the position is repeatable. Since all pianos = are different leveling is done by eyeball. Then dip is set by using a = tapered wedge calibrated at 3/8 inch for "zero" with ten thousands inch = graduations plus or minus. The bar can then be turned end for end and used for leveling and dip = setting for the sharps. It will automatically be 1/2 inch higher. = Reset the reference if you don't like 1/2 inch. I made a 45 min video of the key leveling procedure, but since I'm such = a bad actor and it shows my bald spot so clearly, I only provide it with = the kit. For those interested in the development: About 20-25 years ago when I started to ""Mess around with pianos"" I = thought key leveling was the dumbest, most boring job I could think of = and I got carried away spending al least a week trying to come up with a = better way. I used the prototype for about 15 yrs. and finally refined = the design and took it to a So. Calif. convention. I'd decided if I = sold 5 I would be encouraged. All day Friday I sold a couple of = screwdrivers. All day sat I sold a couple more screwdrivers. Sunday = morning I sold "5". I've now sold about 50 of them. Still not rich, so I've lost my = enthusiasm for the marketing part. I still love to make tools. I gave a = class on "Make your own tools" at the 2000 Ca. conv. I showed slides = for 1 and 1/2 hrs about tools and gadgets I've made and used for years = that I have no desire to market. I've considered making it into a video tape. I might just do it if = there is enough interest. Everytime I get the urge to do a good deed, = though, I take a nap till the urge passes. I always remember what = Marsha Warfield said " I used to be a virgin till I found out there was no money in it". Happy key leveling. Carl Meyer=20 =20 ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/pianotech.php/attachments/4b/00/41/7a/attachment.htm ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment--
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