I've noticed in setting up actions over the years that the ones that feel the best have a particular relationship between front weights and the strike weights and that this relationship is an inverse one. In other words, if, in order to achieve a targeted balance weight, the FWs are approaching maximums, the SWs should be kept fairly low and vice versa-if the SWs are high, the FWs should be relatively low. That's not really surprising since those two components contribute the most to the inertia in the action (the wippen lever's contribution is minimal). Similarly, actions with low FWs don't feel that great with low SWs as if the inertia is too low and the feeling of the action flying away from you leaves a sense of lack of control. Actions that have both high SWs and FWs tend to feel heavy even when the BW is low. It would also make sense, then, that midrange FWs would match up best with midrange SWs. So what I did was create matching tables, one using the original SW Zones published by David Stanwood and then using his published FW maximums as a starting point creating a set of FW zones that correspond in terms of the comparable ratios between each zone. What I'm crudely trying to achieve are actions that possess similar amounts of inertia by matching inversely related BW and FW zones. Roughly speaking, it seems that actions will have equivalent dynamic "feel" when balance weights are equal and when the zones are matched-the lightest SW zones going with the heaviest FW zones and vice versa. This can create some problems, for example, the only practical way to get a zone 7 match with a reasonable balance weight would be either to reduce the action ratio so much that the regulation would be compromised, or, at the point at which the action ratio is maxed out, install a wippen assist spring to reduce the BW to the appropriate level. Similarly, at a zone 1 match, while the action may have good dynamic feel with the high FW offsetting the low SW but with a high action ratio needed to get a reasonable BW, the regulation would be compromised (by modern standards with a very shallow dip) at the other end. It seems to suggest (to me anyway) that there are really a limited range of zones that are really practically usable (for a medium range BW) if we want the inertia to be within some reasonable range and not be forced to compromise the regulation or resort to the use of an assist spring. For most pianos that means zones 3, 4 or 5 (zone 3 is my own particular favorite combination plate) with the compromise being slightly modified regulation combined with a modest adjustment up or down of the balance weight. As an aside, hammer makers would do well to target these zones in manufacturing which typically means that hammer weights should fall within a narrow range +/- of SW - 1.7 grams. It would make life a bit easier. There are, of course, always exceptions. OK, have at it. David Love www.davidlovepianos.com Note SW Zones FW Zones 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 8.0 9.1 10.3 11.3 12.4 13.6 14.8 41.3 36.1 32.1 29.1 26.6 24.2 22.3 2 8.0 9.1 10.3 11.3 12.4 13.6 14.8 41.1 35.9 31.8 28.9 26.5 24.1 22.1 3 7.9 9.1 10.2 11.3 12.3 13.5 14.7 40.8 35.6 31.6 28.7 26.3 23.9 22.0 4 7.9 9.1 10.2 11.2 12.3 13.5 14.7 40.6 35.4 31.4 28.6 26.2 23.8 21.8 5 7.9 9.0 10.2 11.2 12.2 13.4 14.7 40.3 35.2 31.2 28.3 25.9 23.6 21.7 6 7.9 9.0 10.2 11.2 12.2 13.4 14.6 40.1 35.0 31.0 28.2 25.8 23.5 21.6 7 7.8 9.0 10.1 11.1 12.2 13.4 14.6 39.8 34.7 30.8 28.0 25.6 23.3 21.4 8 7.8 9.0 10.1 11.1 12.1 13.3 14.5 39.5 34.4 30.5 27.7 25.4 23.1 21.2 9 7.8 8.9 10.1 11.1 12.1 13.3 14.4 39.3 34.3 30.4 27.6 25.3 23.1 21.2 10 7.8 8.9 10.0 11.0 12.1 13.2 14.4 39.0 34.1 30.2 27.4 25.1 22.9 21.1 11 7.7 8.8 10.0 11.0 12.0 13.2 14.3 38.8 33.9 30.1 27.3 25.0 22.8 21.0 12 7.7 8.8 9.9 10.9 12.0 13.1 14.3 38.5 33.6 29.9 27.1 24.8 22.6 20.8 13 7.7 8.8 9.9 10.9 11.9 13.1 14.2 38.3 33.5 29.7 27.0 24.7 22.5 20.7 14 7.7 8.8 9.9 10.9 11.9 13.0 14.2 38.0 33.2 29.5 26.8 24.5 22.4 20.5 15 7.6 8.7 9.8 10.8 11.8 13.0 14.1 37.8 33.0 29.3 26.7 24.4 22.3 20.4 16 7.6 8.7 9.8 10.8 11.8 12.9 14.1 37.5 32.8 29.1 26.4 24.2 22.1 20.3 17 7.6 8.7 9.8 10.7 11.7 12.9 14.0 37.2 32.5 28.9 26.2 24.0 21.9 20.1 18 7.6 8.6 9.7 10.7 11.7 12.8 14.0 37.0 32.4 28.8 26.1 23.9 21.8 20.0 19 7.5 8.6 9.7 10.7 11.7 12.8 13.9 36.7 32.1 28.6 25.9 23.7 21.6 19.9 20 7.5 8.6 9.6 10.6 11.6 12.7 13.8 36.4 31.9 28.3 25.7 23.5 21.5 19.8 21 7.5 8.5 9.6 10.6 11.6 12.7 13.8 36.1 31.6 28.1 25.5 23.4 21.3 19.6 22 7.5 8.5 9.6 10.5 11.5 12.6 13.7 35.8 31.4 28.0 25.4 23.3 21.2 19.5 23 7.4 8.5 9.5 10.5 11.4 12.5 13.6 35.5 31.2 27.8 25.2 23.1 21.1 19.4 24 7.4 8.4 9.5 10.4 11.4 12.5 13.6 35.2 30.9 27.5 25.0 22.9 20.9 19.2 25 7.4 8.4 9.4 10.4 11.3 12.4 13.5 34.9 30.6 27.2 24.8 22.7 20.7 19.0 26 7.3 8.4 9.4 10.3 11.3 12.3 13.4 34.6 30.3 27.0 24.6 22.5 20.6 18.9 27 7.3 8.3 9.4 10.3 11.2 12.3 13.4 34.3 30.1 26.8 24.4 22.4 20.4 18.8 28 7.3 8.3 9.3 10.2 11.2 12.2 13.3 34.0 29.8 26.5 24.1 22.1 20.2 18.5 29 7.2 8.2 9.3 10.2 11.1 12.2 13.2 33.7 29.5 26.2 23.8 21.9 20.0 18.4 30 7.2 8.2 9.2 10.1 11.1 12.1 13.2 33.3 29.1 25.9 23.5 21.6 19.7 18.1 31 7.1 8.1 9.2 10.1 11.0 12.1 13.1 33.0 28.9 25.7 23.4 21.4 19.5 18.0 32 7.1 8.1 9.1 10.0 10.9 12.0 13.0 32.7 28.7 25.5 23.2 21.3 19.4 17.9 33 7.1 8.1 9.1 10.0 10.9 11.9 13.0 32.4 28.4 25.2 23.0 21.1 19.2 17.6 34 7.0 8.0 9.0 9.9 10.8 11.9 12.9 32.1 28.1 25.0 22.7 20.8 19.0 17.4 35 7.0 8.0 9.0 9.9 10.8 11.8 12.8 31.7 27.7 24.6 22.4 20.5 18.7 17.2 36 6.9 7.9 8.9 9.8 10.7 11.7 12.7 31.4 27.5 24.4 22.2 20.4 18.6 17.1 37 6.9 7.9 8.8 9.7 10.6 11.6 12.7 31.0 27.2 24.3 22.0 20.1 18.4 16.9 38 6.9 7.8 8.8 9.7 10.6 11.6 12.6 30.7 27.0 24.0 21.8 19.9 18.2 16.7 39 6.8 7.8 8.7 9.6 10.5 11.5 12.5 30.4 26.7 23.8 21.5 19.7 18.0 16.5 40 6.8 7.7 8.7 9.6 10.5 11.4 12.4 30.0 26.3 23.4 21.2 19.4 17.7 16.3 41 6.7 7.6 8.6 9.5 10.4 11.3 12.3 29.6 25.9 23.1 20.9 19.1 17.5 16.1 42 6.7 7.6 8.5 9.4 10.3 11.3 12.3 29.3 25.7 22.9 20.7 18.9 17.3 15.9 43 6.6 7.5 8.5 9.3 10.2 11.2 12.2 28.9 25.3 22.6 20.5 18.7 17.0 15.6 44 6.6 7.5 8.4 9.3 10.2 11.1 12.1 28.5 25.0 22.2 20.1 18.4 16.8 15.4 45 6.5 7.4 8.4 9.2 10.1 11.1 12.0 28.1 24.6 21.9 19.8 18.1 16.5 15.2 46 6.5 7.4 8.3 9.2 10.0 11.0 11.9 27.7 24.2 21.5 19.5 17.9 16.3 15.0 47 6.4 7.3 8.2 9.1 10.0 10.9 11.8 27.3 23.9 21.3 19.3 17.6 16.1 14.8 48 6.4 7.3 8.2 9.0 9.9 10.8 11.7 26.9 23.6 21.0 18.9 17.3 15.8 14.6 49 6.3 7.2 8.1 9.0 9.8 10.7 11.6 26.4 23.1 20.5 18.6 17.0 15.5 14.3 50 6.2 7.1 8.0 8.9 9.7 10.6 11.5 26.0 22.8 20.2 18.3 16.7 15.3 14.1 51 6.2 7.1 8.0 8.8 9.7 10.5 11.4 25.6 22.4 19.8 17.9 16.3 15.0 13.8 52 6.1 7.0 7.9 8.7 9.6 10.4 11.3 25.1 21.9 19.4 17.5 16.0 14.7 13.5 53 6.1 6.9 7.8 8.7 9.5 10.4 11.2 24.7 21.6 19.2 17.3 15.7 14.4 13.3 54 6.0 6.9 7.7 8.6 9.4 10.3 11.1 24.2 21.2 18.9 17.0 15.4 14.1 13.1 55 6.0 6.8 7.6 8.5 9.3 10.2 11.0 23.8 20.9 18.6 16.7 15.2 13.9 12.9 56 5.9 6.7 7.6 8.4 9.3 10.1 10.9 23.3 20.4 18.2 16.4 14.9 13.6 12.6 57 5.8 6.7 7.5 8.4 9.2 10.0 10.8 22.8 19.9 17.6 15.8 14.4 13.2 12.2 58 5.8 6.6 7.4 8.3 9.1 9.9 10.7 22.3 19.5 17.3 15.5 14.1 13.0 12.0 59 5.7 6.5 7.3 8.2 9.0 9.8 10.6 21.8 19.1 17.0 15.2 13.8 12.7 11.7 60 5.6 6.4 7.2 8.1 8.9 9.7 10.5 21.3 18.6 16.5 14.8 13.4 12.3 11.4 61 5.6 6.4 7.2 8.0 8.8 9.6 10.4 20.8 18.2 16.1 14.5 13.1 12.0 11.1 62 5.5 6.3 7.1 7.9 8.7 9.5 10.3 20.2 17.6 15.6 14.1 12.8 11.7 10.8 63 5.4 6.2 7.0 7.8 8.6 9.4 10.2 19.7 17.2 15.2 13.6 12.4 11.3 10.4 64 5.4 6.1 6.9 7.7 8.5 9.3 10.1 19.1 16.7 14.8 13.3 12.0 11.0 10.1 65 5.3 6.0 6.8 7.6 8.4 9.2 10.0 18.6 16.3 14.4 12.9 11.7 10.7 9.8 66 5.2 6.0 6.7 7.5 8.3 9.1 9.9 18.0 15.7 14.0 12.5 11.3 10.3 9.5 67 5.2 5.9 6.7 7.4 8.2 9.0 9.7 17.4 15.2 13.5 12.1 10.9 10.0 9.2 68 5.1 5.8 6.6 7.3 8.1 8.9 9.6 16.8 14.6 13.0 11.6 10.5 9.6 8.9 69 5.0 5.7 6.5 7.2 8.0 8.8 9.5 16.2 14.1 12.5 11.2 10.1 9.3 8.5 70 4.9 5.7 6.4 7.2 7.9 8.6 9.4 15.5 13.5 11.9 10.7 9.7 8.9 8.2 71 4.9 5.6 6.3 7.1 7.8 8.5 9.2 14.9 13.0 11.5 10.3 9.3 8.5 7.9 72 4.8 5.5 6.2 6.9 7.7 8.4 9.1 14.3 12.5 11.1 9.9 8.9 8.2 7.5 73 4.7 5.4 6.1 6.8 7.5 8.2 9.0 13.6 11.8 10.5 9.4 8.5 7.8 7.1 74 4.6 5.3 6.0 6.7 7.4 8.1 8.8 13.0 11.3 10.0 8.9 8.1 7.4 6.8 75 4.5 5.2 5.9 6.6 7.3 8.0 8.7 12.3 10.7 9.4 8.4 7.6 7.0 6.4 76 4.5 5.1 5.8 6.5 7.2 7.9 8.6 11.6 10.1 8.9 8.0 7.2 6.6 6.0 77 4.4 5.0 5.7 6.4 7.0 7.7 8.4 11.0 9.6 8.4 7.6 6.9 6.2 5.7 78 4.3 5.0 5.6 6.3 6.9 7.6 8.3 10.3 8.9 7.9 7.1 6.4 5.8 5.3 79 4.2 4.9 5.5 6.2 6.8 7.5 8.2 9.6 8.3 7.3 6.6 5.9 5.4 4.9 80 4.2 4.8 5.4 6.1 6.7 7.4 8.0 9.0 7.8 6.9 6.2 5.6 5.1 4.7 81 4.1 4.7 5.3 6.0 6.6 7.3 7.9 8.3 7.2 6.4 5.7 5.2 4.7 4.3 82 4.0 4.6 5.2 5.8 6.5 7.1 7.8 7.6 6.6 5.8 5.2 4.7 4.3 3.9 83 3.9 4.5 5.1 5.7 6.4 7.0 7.6 7.0 6.1 5.4 4.8 4.3 3.9 3.6 84 3.8 4.4 5.0 5.6 6.2 6.8 7.5 6.3 5.4 4.8 4.3 3.8 3.5 3.2 85 3.8 4.3 4.9 5.5 6.1 6.7 7.3 5.6 4.9 4.3 3.8 3.4 3.1 2.9 86 3.7 4.3 4.8 5.4 6.0 6.6 7.2 5.0 4.4 3.9 3.4 3.1 2.8 2.6 87 3.6 4.2 4.7 5.3 5.9 6.5 7.0 4.3 3.7 3.3 2.9 2.6 2.4 2.2 88 3.5 4.1 4.6 5.2 5.8 6.3 6.9 3.7 3.2 2.8 2.5 2.2 2.0 1.9 -------------- 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