Steinway A

[David Love]

There is no "too much" really unless the tail is contacting the wippen
flange.  Varied strike lines are common on Steinways and 1/8" is not
unusual.  Just set your samples by listening to the tone and hang the rest
according to them.  If the hammers are already hung lay a strip of tape on
the key bed and mark the current key frame/key bed alignment with a pencil
line.   As you go through the section pulling the action out to achieve the
optimum tone, note on the tape the new position of the keybed and mark the
note number.  Do this for every 5 or so notes and the difference between
your original line and the new line will be the amount you have to move the
hammers in on the shank.  
Sometimes the line is not straight and will curve inward and then back out.
If you have to move the hammers in very far, be sure that you have enough
clearance at the tail so that it's not hitting the wippen flange.  

 

David Love
davidlovepianos at comcast.net 

-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Clark Sprague
Sent: Sunday, June 04, 2006 8:43 AM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Steinway A

 

Hello, List.  I am finally down to the wire on a 1903 short A, that has been
in the works for over a year, and I am thinking that I need the input from
you old hands out there.

    How much does the strike line vary in the killer octave region, when
this is necessary?  I am having trouble getting consistent tone, right
around  F# 5 to D6.  It is great before and after this.  I knew from the
talk around the List that sometimes it is necessary to change the strike
line in the Killer Octave area to achieve the best tone, but how much is
workable?

    I suspected something amiss, when the hammers that were changed before,
were hung at 5" instead of 5 1/8", and the bass hammers had almost no angle
on them (2 or 3 degrees).  I created my own samples, and hung the rest to
them (Spurlock's jigs are GREAT).  It all worked out well, except this area.
When the action is pulled out, the tone improves dramatically in that area,
but how much is too much?  What has been your experiences?  I'm going to
have to do something, quickly.  HELP!!

Clark A. Sprague, RPT

csprague4 at woh.rr.com <mailto:RPcsprague4 at woh.rr.com> 

 

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