I meant to get back to the list on this topic. I went back to the Steinway A a couple of weeks ago. I found that the jack position was quite easy to adjust by manipulating the felt itself. I found that a voicing needle was not aggressive enough, but a pair of tweezers worked well. I simply stretched the felt and then repacked it by pushing the jack firmly back into the felt a few times. It was kind of like tightening a jack spring on an upright. Ry On Sat, Nov 13, 2010 at 3:11 PM, Ryan Sowers <tunerryan at gmail.com> wrote: > Thanks so much Don! This looks like the most reasonable approach so far! It > makes so much sense now that you mention it. I'll give it a try. > > The shanks and flanges were replaced some time ago, so they are in OK > condition. > > This will be an interesting case - my plan is to get the excessive friction > out of the action, touch up the regulation, and install a Touchrail. The > client knows that the touchrail is kind of an experiment for me but he was > interested in trying it. > > I'll let you all know how it works out! > > > > On Sat, Nov 13, 2010 at 2:11 PM, Don Mannino <donmannino at ca.rr.com> wrote: > >> 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 >> >> >> > > > > -- > Ryan Sowers, RPT > Puget Sound Chapter > Olympia, WA > www.pianova.net > -- Ryan Sowers, RPT Puget Sound Chapter Olympia, WA www.pianova.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://ptg.org/pipermail/pianotech.php/attachments/20110208/1034b1e1/attachment.htm>
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