Una corda and double damper lift

[paul bruesch]

William and Barbara,

I had the feeling that this might be the case. It does sound mellower/softer
when shifted. I'd just never seen another piano that doesn't shift a full
string distance.  Even adjusting the stop a long ways it still didn't shift
as far as I expected, and I couldn't understand how it could be so far outta
whack when nothing else on the piano was (except for being 25c flat!)

And I haven't had much occasion to adjust shift stops. On my client's Young
Chang, there is an adjustable stop (like a capstan) directly above the pedal
push rod. On other pianos that I've looked down there for some or other
reason, I've never noticed that, and there isn't on one my Samick-made
Kohler & Campbell.

I'll take another gander at it before I start shaving key end widths, though
I suppose I might still wind up doing that.

Thanks for all the replies!

Paul Bruesch
Stillwater, MN


On Sat, May 24, 2008 at 9:03 PM, William R. Monroe <pianotech at a440piano.net>
wrote:

> As Barbara mentioned, Paul, it is not always necessary/desirable that
> pianos need to shift a full string with the una corda.  It is a very common
> set-up to have the hammers shift so that all three strings are still being
> struck, in a position that is about 1/2 to 2/3 of the way to a full string
> shift. This allows one to alter the tone color while playing with the una
> corda fully depressed, rather than simply having a reduction in volume on
> full shift (two strings being struck in the grooves, while the third is
> missed).
>
> This being said, if you undertake to adjust the shift distance, it would be
> wise to first check the hammer to string spacing to make sure that is dead
> on.  If the hammer to string spacing is inconsistent, anything you do with
> the una corda is going to be inconsistent as well.  Of course, now you might
> be into a situation that requires shaping hammers, aligning the hammers to
> the strings, then adjusting the shift distance properly, THEN dealing with
> string leveling and voicing which will have changed............and so on.
> ;-]
>
> I think Owen and Don gave you some good info as well, depending upon your
> situation.  Your quickest might be examining the key end felts.  It wouldn't
> be uncommon to have the felts cut sloppily and consequently grabbing the
> neighboring underlever in shift position.
>
> William R. Monroe
>
>
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