I agree with everyone...but especially Ed Foote when he says > "I think we can develop > our sense of touch as fully as we can our sense of tone and pitch." I like Dale's gauge, and use it to get close, but the final determination with me is touch; my fingers are more sensitive to slight distance changes than any player, because it's part of my skillset to master that ability. My key travel is ideally 10.2 or 10.3mm; to me, aftertouch is not about distance, but about a feeling of crispness and solidity; about movement in the action being synchronized at a certain moment; and about a safety factor in mechanical function. David A. On Feb 27, 2009, at 8:09 AM, David Love wrote: > I agree with developing a sense of touch rather than a weight--less > stuff to > handle and move as well. For those who don't, though, there are dip > weights > available. I hadn't thought of permanent spacers with an extender > like > that. That's a better method, again, less handling of different > stuff makes > things go faster with less stress. > > David Love > www.davidlovepianos.com > > -----Original Message----- > From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] > On Behalf > Of A440A at aol.com > Sent: Friday, February 27, 2009 7:30 AM > To: pianotech at ptg.org > Subject: [pianotech] key dip (was gauge) > > David writes: > > << Cut out a slot in a card > stock punching that is the thickness of the desired amount of > aftertouch. I > use .030". The punching can then be inserted and removed with a > pair of > tweezers easily. <snip> Use a weight do depress the key is you > choose. >> > > I also regulate with an aftertouch priority. I used tweezers > for > years, but the final arrival of a carpal tunnel problem made me wish > I had > gone > ahead and made up some permanent spacers much earlier. It took all > of 3 > minutes to cut out and tape cardboard handles to the spacers I use for > measuring > aftertouch, (stacks of punchings glued together for various depths), > It is > now > faster, easier, and I don't spend an hour with my forearm tightened up > around a > pair of tweezers! Blow and let-off settings are both critical to > making the > > dip consistent! > I would also make a push here for not using a weight, but rather, > developing a sense in ones finger for feeling escapement and a certain > amount of > punching compression as simultaneous events. With so many variables, > (ratio, > weight, resiliency, friction), not only the amount, but the nature > of the > resistance at let-off is a critical factor in how trustworthy the > piano > feels at > pianissimo playing, which is when the highest demands are made for > consistanty > in not only aftertouch, but the sudden onset of friction during > escapement. > I think a well educated finger is capable of leaving an equally > consistant feel as a weight, which I once used. I always found I > would go > back and > change some dips from a thinnest tissue up to maybe pink, just to > make them > feel consistant. Not only are we free one less tool, but I think we > can > develop > our sense of touch as fully as we can our sense of tone and pitch. > We just > have > to do the work of using them that way. > This is sort of like the difference in aural and machine tuning. > The > highly developed sensual approach is capable of surpassing mechanical > results, > but it takes highly developed ears to hear it, (and be willing to > pay for > it). > > > regards, > > Ed Foote RPT > http://www.uk-piano.org/edfoote/index.html > www.uk-piano.org/edfoote/well_tempered_piano.html > <BR><BR><BR>**************<BR>A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See > yours > in just 2 easy steps! > (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1218822736x1201267884/aol?redir=htt > p:%2F%2Fwww.freecreditreport.com%2Fpm%2Fdefault.aspx%3Fsc% > 3D668072%26hmpgID%3D62%26bcd%3DfebemailfooterNO62)</HTML> > >
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