Grand regulating

[Farrell]

>     I never use a let-off rack.  What a waste of time.

I trust you are trying to suggest that some methods work well for some
folks, and other methods may work better for others? I also trust you have
wisely chosen to not waste your time. I know I try not to waste mine.

>     By the time you set up a jig, you can have entire let-off adjusted
> inside the piano.  Why waste your time?

Well, again, I try to not waste my time. When I have completely disassembled
an action that was originally in horrid regulation, put all new felt under
the keys, drastically filed hammers, and reassembled, I would rather do some
bench regulating to get it close than drive to the piano and start leveling
keys and regulating the action from scratch. You are talking hours at that
point. You might not even be able to get the action into the action cavity
because it is so out of whack!

I think it also looks a bit more professional to take the old junky action
out of the home to your shop, and then return with a great looking action -
reasonably level hammers, etc. - with only a bit of regulation refinement
needed at the home.

Many piano shops do not have a FLAT, SOLID regulating table (I'm talking
near perfectly flat). If you do (and the piano has a flat keybed), you can
come extremely close with the bench regulation. For me, I am not wasting
time. I am enjoying life. I do not often have fun in people's homes - I work
hard there. I have fun in my shop - I also get a lot of work done
(sometimes).

Let-off racks are also great for the beginner because being able to see the
string line helps visualize what is happening with the action in the piano.

IMHO, rather than sitting in Mrs. Yellinatthekids house regulating an BAD
action from scratch (you don't really even know at this point if it CAN be
regulated!), I would rather sit in my nice cool shop on my nice comfy chair
(height adjustable, springy, well cushioned), play some Neil Young in the
background (OK, occasionally cranking it up), kiss my beautiful wife when
she comes in to check & see how I'm doin', pat my doggie on the head once in
a while, use my own bathroom, help my son glue a fin on his model rocket,
etc., etc.

And even if I do waste some time, as Neil Young once said: "There's a lot to
learn, for wastin' time."

I think the bottom line is, "to each, their own". One way works efficiently
for me, so I am smart to do it that way. A different way works best for you,
so I trust you are wise enough to do it the other way. If there is one thing
I have learned in this business so far, it's that there are often many ways
to do a job efficiently and properly. Also, one might choose to present
their particular approach in a way other than characterizing someone else's
approach as "What a waste of time & Why waste your time?"

Terry Farrell
Piano Tuning & Service
Tampa, Florida
mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com

----- Original Message -----
From: "Ron & Lorene Shiflet" <rshiflet@eaznet.com>
To: "PTG - send/receive" <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Sunday, February 25, 2001 6:50 PM
Subject: Re: Grand regulating


>     I never use a let-off rack.  What a waste of time.
>     When you use a rack, there are always adjustments that seem fine on
the
> bench and then need to be changed when inside the piano.
>     When I was a new technician, I thought a rack was the only way.  By
and
> by, I learned a timeless lesson.  Be a little more patient now, and learn
to
> set letoff without a jig.
>     By the time you set up a jig, you can have entire let-off adjusted
> inside the piano.  Why waste your time?
>
> Ron
>
> Also, I highly recommend buying your own copy of Yamaha's 37 steps
video's.
> Cost is about $200.  A small price indeed.
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "L. Verkoelen" <mrfixit@pineknot.com>
> To: "Pianotech List" <pianotech@ptg.org>
> Sent: Saturday, February 24, 2001 10:01 AM
> Subject: Grand regulating
>
>
> > Hello list,
> >
> > My name is Louis Verkoelen. I am a new associate tech high in the resort
> > communities of southern California and have been tuning part time for
> > several years. I have been following the list for a couple of months now
> and
> > the more I read the more I realize I have yet to learn. I am hoping to
> take
> > my tests sometime next year and make this a full time business.
> >
> > I have a couple of questions I hope you can help me with. I am doing my
> > first full regulation on a 1929 4'10" Wurlitzer grand. The lady picked
it
> up
> > for a song and figured I could make it work right. It looks like it
hasn't
> > been regulated since new. Let off is over 1/2".
> > Anyway, to my questions.
> > 1.When leveling, are the clip on weights the best way to go or is their
a
> > better way.
> > 2.I need a let-off rack. Is the Jaras 4 in 1 rack (shaff) any good or
> should
> > I stick to the traditional wood style.
> > 3.The blocks that hold the key frame in place are missing. They were
> > originally part of the cheek blocks. Does anybody sell a replacement
> (havn't
> > seen them in the Schaff or APSCO catalogs) or do I have to fabricate a
> set.
> > If I have to make, whats the best material to use.
> >
> > Thanks.
> >
> > Louis Verkoelen
> > Big Bear City, CA
> >
> >
>
>
>