[pianotech] no jack position adjustment on Steinway A

[Don Mannino]

Ryan,

 

Keeping in mind that the felt itself experiences very little wear, but only
compression, I have had luck with using a voicing needle to "uncompress" the
felt a little.  By testing carefully with the first one, you can try a
different number of pokes to get the felt to come out the amount you want.
Do the first one, squeeze the jack back against it a few times firmly, and
check the regulation.

 

Use 2 deep pokes at first, all the way down through the felt, parallel to
the jack contact surface but closer to the wippen side of the felt.
Increase the number of pokes until you get the results you need, then do the
same thing all the way through.  After squeezing the jacks back afterwards,
even up the ones that need a little more with some more needle pokes.

 

I have only done this on 2 pianos, but each time the regulation was fairly
stable, settling back slightly but not nearly as far back as it had been.  A
little touch up of a few notes on a follow-up tuning was needed.

 

Another technique is to use travel paper behind the jack rest felt.  You
have to use an Exacto knife or similar to make a slit where the felt is
glued in.  Then make a paper strip from stationary paper, wipe a little glue
on one side, insert into the slot, slice it off, and move on to the next.
I've done this once, and didn't find it to be any more accurate or
long-lasting than the needle job, because the process of slitting the felt
and inserting the paper disturbs the felt too much.

 

Some people feel that the repetition on these actions is better than the
current ones with the regulating button on the jack, due to the lower
inertia of the jack.

 

Lastly, it would seem that the knuckles are probably pretty worn on this
piano, so maybe you should address them as well.

 

Don Mannino

 

From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Joseph Garrett
Sent: Saturday, November 13, 2010 7:35 AM
To: pianotech
Subject: Re: [pianotech] no jack position adjustment on Steinway A

 

Ryan: "I consulted with a client today about his early 1900's Steinway A.
The

client has been unhappy with the heavy touch, so one of the things I checked

was jack postion. I then discovered that there was no adjustment for the

jack position! This is the first time I've seen this.

 

I'm thinking maybe the easiest way to adjust it is to put a paper shim on

the back of the jack. Any other ideas? How unusual is this?"

 

-- 

Ryan,

That is probably earlier than 1900. 85 notes? Probably 1880's. I've run into
several. Paper/felt/whatever doesn't work...generally creates noise if you
glue something in there. Two options: 1. change the jacks and add the spoon
to the olde, (often brittle), wippens. 2. New wippens. (Steinway N.Y.
Improved is recommended...not some knock offs.<G)

Best Regards,
Joe 

 

 

Joe Garrett, R.P.T.

Captain of the Tool Police

Squares R I

 

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