Steinway key humping

[Carl Meyer]

I've commented on this before, but some may not have noticed or disagree
with me.

Since I am the self appointed key leveling guru, I need to reiterate that I
believe the idea of the 1/16 hump in the key leveling of S&S has been
misconstrued.  Setting a hump in the keyboard for the purpose of
compensating for the  sagging due to the excessive playing of the center is
just urban legend.

I recall when I first heard that, I was impressed with that concept.  I have
been now convinced that to misadjust to compensate for wear is not a logical
engineering decision.

An S&S rep told me that the reason for humping the key leveling is to
compensate for the fact that they shape the key bed for a level of crown of
about 1/16 inch during manufacturing.  The key level then should follow the
curvature of the key bed.  This requires the key frame to be clamped by the
cheek blocks for the purpose of having better contact due to the curvature
of the key frame.  I was then told that it was necessary to level (sic) the
keys in the piano since that would be the only way it would be accurate.

I still hold to my concept that if you clamp the action (key frame to a flat
table) and LEVEL the keys, when you reinstall the action the hump will
automatically the same as the key bed.  Isn't that what they want?  Any
additional leveling to what ever shape you want or touch up can be done
after the action is in the piano.  You may drive yourself to utter
frustration or terminal if you like.

I know of no other piano manufacturer who purposely makes their key beds
unleveled. I was even told by another S&S rep that the key bed was stronger
because of the (crown).  Can any of you math gurus tell me how much extra
strength 1/16 crown over 4 feet of a 1 1/2  thick key bed will produce?

Just look at all the consternation this one item has caused.  How many
e-mails have been written.  Gives all the S&S apologists a reason for being.
Argggggggg!!!!!!  Could any other manufacturer  do something like this and
not been blasted?

By the way, Joe Goss is now selling my key leveling system.

Carl Meyer Ptg assoc
Santa Clara, Ca.