What would you have done?

[David Love]

Go through and check the repetition spring tension to make sure it is not
weak and fairly uniform.  That's all.  Since it is not a piano you normally
work on, and since repetition problems may stem from a variety of issues:
low checking, shanks too far off the rest cushions, loose pinning in the
hammer flanges and/or repetition lever, too much lead, low up-weight etc.. 
Where would you begin, or end.  If you found the repetition springs to be
uniform, then I would tell the pianist that you checked over what you could
and you believe it will be fine.  Sometimes a little assurance is all that
is really needed.

David Love
davidlovepianos@earthlink.net


----- Original Message ----- 
From: Phil Bondi 
To: Newtonville
Sent: 1/20/2004 7:47:23 PM 
Subject: What would you have done?


Here was the situation today: 
-Well-known pianist coming into town playing on a piano I am not familiar
with..the regular tech just couldn't make the gig, so he called me to do it.
-The piano is a S&S D and has been re-strung, new whips, hammers,
shanks..good work was done to it. 
- The note left behind for me from the pianist when I arrived asked me to
do something with the repitition..it seemed 'sticky' and if I could do
anything about a few dampers..
-Well, not wanting to step on any toes, I learned, after I pulled the
action, that this Pianist likes active repitition, because what was
presented to me was in good working order. This Pianist has played on the
'D' that I care for, and he loved it..I have the spring tension set a
little active on that one..and the action is a tad lighter on mine.
So .. I was able to quiet the dampers, but what to do about the repitition
request with little to no time to work with? 
What I did was put some teflon powder on the knuckles hoping that would
make it feel lighter to him. 
What would you have done? 
-Phil Bondi(FL)