yamaha "soft close"

[Mike Spalding]

Paul,

I have a client interested in a soft close retrofit to her Kawai grand
(teacher whose younger students keep knocking the fallboard down on their
fingers!).  I've looked at the QRS website but found no info on fallboard
closers.  Can you give me contact info, part number, price?

thanks

Mike Spalding RPT

----- Original Message -----
From: "Paul McCloud" <pmc333@earthlink.net>
To: "'Pianotech'" <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Tuesday, April 22, 2003 12:24 AM
Subject: RE: yamaha "soft close"


> I've installed both versions of the QRS fallboard closer.  They are a
> pneumatic pouch, to which is tied a thin cable.  The other end of the
> cable is tied to the rear edge of the fallboard.
>
> One unit installs inside the action cavity, at the right rear bulkhead
> behind the dag.  I was told that this version doesn't work as well as
> the one which installs underneath the piano.  It is also more difficult
> to install.
> The internal pneumatic unit has an arm attached to it, the end of which
> is tied to the cable.  The arm will hit the treblemost hammers if not
> adjusted properly.  The pneumatic unit (approx. 5" X 7") is hinged at
> the left side,  and the front half swings in an arc outward towards the
> keys.  The arm is screwed across the face of the front half, thus
> sticking out towards the right side of the piano.  Two pulleys are
> supplied with screws, and these pulleys guide the cable from the arm
> across the inside right action cavity wall to the keybed and upwards to
> the fallboard rear edge, where it connects through a screw-eye.
> The problem is that there is little room for the arm to move. Unless the
> pneumatic pouch develops vacuum, it won't slow the fallboard, and this
> won't happen until the pouch is at least partially opened.  I think I
> pulled the action out of the piano at least 25 times before I was able
> to make the thing work without hitting those hammers.  The compromise
> needed was that the fallboard had to free-fall most of the way down
> before it slowed.
>
> The other unit installs under the piano.  It requires a hole in the
> keyframe and keybed.  I was afraid of drilling the holes (I usually
> measure once, drill twice, and start over), but it turned out to be much
> easier than I thought.  It took only about 20 mins. to install
> everything, and worked great.  The pneumatic unit is almost unnoticeable
> under the piano (mounts behind the lyre or timber on one side).  You do
> have to unhook the wire before you remove the fallboard, though.
>
> I would recommend the QRS system (and make some $$$'s too!)
>
> My take,
> Paul McCloud
> San Diego
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives
>