[pianotech] regulation "sweet" spot

[Joe And Penny Goss]

Hi Fenton,
My level weighs 50 g + or -
Would that work for a weight to set drop?
Joe Goss RPT
Mother Goose Tools
imatunr at srvinet.com
www.mothergoosetools.com
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Fenton Murray" <fmurray at cruzio.com>
To: <pianotech at ptg.org>
Sent: Wednesday, January 21, 2009 9:04 PM
Subject: Re: [pianotech] regulation "sweet" spot


> I'm just picking up this thread and would like to add a method for setting
> drop.
>
> With let off set and drop too low and the action on the bench.
> Place weights on the key amounting to 5 grams or so over the down weight.
> Let say down weight is about 52, try 56 or 57 grams.
> The key will drop until the drop screw contacts the leather.
> Now, raise the drop and watch the hammer rise, when it stops rising the
jack
> heal has made contact with it's button.
> You now have simultaneous contact between drop and let off.
> Fenton
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "John Delacour" <JD at Pianomaker.co.uk>
> To: <pianotech at ptg.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, January 20, 2009 2:23 PM
> Subject: Re: [pianotech] regulation "sweet" spot
>
>
> > At 14:12 +0000 20/1/09, Steven Hopp wrote:
> >
> >>...(This is my first full grand regulation).
> >
> > Don't beat yourself up, then, if it's not as full as it should be.
> >
> >>I am having some trouble on a few notes not finding that "sweet" spot of
> >>let-off to drop ratio or point.  I am using a let-off rack set to
baldwin
> >>spec of 1" 7/8" and have levelled the hammers for a proper blow
distance.
> >
> > As others have suggested, hammers should be bored to suit the individual
> > piano; otherwise the result will never be ideal.  The factory bore is
> > often wrong and it is almost always possible to get the piano sounding
> > better than it ever did, especially in the high treble, by boring the
> > hammers exactly -- but it's too late for that now and it's a long
subject.
> >
> >>   The majority of the notes are good and behave as expected. i.e. a
slow
> >> rise of hammer to a 1/16" below string strike with a 1/8" drop with
that
> >> little bump (what I call the sweet spot) in the feel of the key as you
> >> play.  Granted on the good ones some of the "bumps" are stronger than
> >> others but on some it is very weak or on the bad notes it is not
present
> >> at all.
> >>
> >>The questions I have are:
> >>
> >>1.  What should I do when I can not get the two Let off and drop to
> >>reconcile?  (good rise vs. too much drop or poor rise with that magic
bump
> >>in the feel)
> >>
> >>2.  If I get the regulation button turned so low that there is no more
> >>turn left and I am not getting good results what should I do after
> >>starting back at beginning of that notes regulation?
> >
> > The chances are, as has also been suggested, that either you have the
drop
> > screws too high or you have insufficient touch depth.  The set-off
> > (letoff) is always adjusted before the drop, but you can't do the
set-off
> > unless you have previously screwed down the drop screws, which, in the
> > case of a piano that has worn and been regulated, will always be too
high.
> > So, roughly lower the drop screws so that you can regulate the set-off.
> >
> > Contrary to someone else's advice, I always leave touch depth till last
> > before finally regulating the drop, and I have good reasons for this.
If
> > your blow is exact and your set-off good, then the desired touch depth
> > will be that which brings the jack just clear of the roller (knuckle).
> > With the drop regulated fairly accurately you can regulate the touch
depth
> > until you get just the right kick, and this is best done by feel with
the
> > action in the piano.  When this is done, finally regulate the drop, and
> > then recheck the kick (or aftertouch).  If the aftertouch is
excessive -- 
> > the jack is pushed against the slap cushion and there is a marked
kick -- 
> > then the regulation is inefficient, the touch is too deep.  Once the
> > hammer has dropped onto the cradle the key should be bottomed so that
the
> > hammer can only be made to rise by pushing the key hard into the keybed.
> > Some actions will exhibit no rise of the hammer after drop, but with
most
> > standard Erard-Herz actions the hammer will rise very slightly during
the
> > aftertouch.  But the less aftertouch you have, consistent with clearance
> > of the jack from the roller, the better it is.  There is absolutely no
> > virtue in kick for kick's sake.
> >
> > These operations all come very near the end of the process of "grand
> > finishing".  Regulation begins with a whole series of far more basic
> > measurements and alignments, as we all gradually learn!
> >
> > JD
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>