The last sentence should read (leaf springs) Sorry. Spell check can't find things like that Carl ----- Original Message ----- From: "Carl Meyer" <cmpiano@comcast.net> To: <pianotech@ptg.org> Sent: Sunday, May 15, 2005 3:22 PM Subject: M & H upright > This is a 1903 M H upright that I've restrung after rescaling and just put > on a new set of Ronsen hammers with Bacon felt and soft maple cores. It > has a pianocorder installed. My main concern has been to have a piano > that plays softly. After installing about 130 pianocorders the biggest > complaint has been "Its too loud" "Go in the bathroom if you want to > talk" There is a normal threshold where the piano won't play. Pneumatic > pianos have the most power at the beginning of the stroke but solenoid > driven ones have the most power at the end and its not linear. It's not > easy to get a solenoid to perform like a pneumatic. > > My intent was to use soft light hammers and reduced stroke to make the > piano play as soft as possible and still function well. > > Other ways to reduce volume would be to stuff shag carpet or foam in the > back between the posts. > > The new hammers were dramatic in reducing the volume. I may have to juice > it up some. > > I reduced the hammer blow to about 1 3/4. I had to adjust the backcheck > to check at 3/8-1/2 inch to prevent bobbling. It seems to play okay > manually (I'm not a pianist) but from the pianocorder it still seems to > bobble and not repeat right. the solenoids seem to be adjusted correctly. > > This piano has the brass leaf springs on the jacks. I have come to the > conclusion that these springs are causing the butts to dance on the jack > tip since the jack gets in the way due to the springs trying to push the > jack back under the butt. This then causes the unstable operation from > the solenoids. > > I'm considering removing the leaf springs. I know they are there to > increase repetition, but in this situation I think they are the source of > the problem. Would I need a flame suit if I removed them? I don't like > hot weather. > > Another thing I'm considering is replacing the hammer return springs. I > recall years ago finding that weak return springs will cause bobbling. > Dampers are on the list as well. > > I just today have contracted to install a pianocorder in a Horugal grand > piano. They want it with a wireless unit from a computer, complete with a > wireless power switch. > > I am sure having a ball with this unit. I can even download some of > Yamahas music and play it on my piano. > > Just go to Pianocorder on Google and find out about Mark Fontana's plug in > that converts midi to pianocorder. I can control tempo, volume and > transpose from the mouse. Lotsa fun and unlimited source of music. > > What do youse all think of removing the lead springs?? Thanks > > Carl Meyer PTG assoc > Santa Clara, Ca. > > > > _______________________________________________ > pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives >
This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC