D

[Richard Brekne]

Kent Swafford wrote:

>
> Anyway, I was called out to see the piano.
>
> Downweight measured 75 grams, + or -.
>
> I found jiffy leads, attached to the underside of many of the keys,
> _behind_ the balance rail. I removed them, thinking that I was about to
> find the reason that they were added in the first place. I still
> haven't a clue. Maybe the rebuilder didn't either...  (Anybody care to
> speculate on why they were put there?)

Uduglighet. :)... This is not something done as a result of a well thought
out solution to a well diagnosed problem.. yes ??

> Downweight now measures 65 grams, + or -.
>
> The action parts appeared to be Renner, with real Steinway hammers, but
> the wips do not have screw-adjustable rep springs, so the parts
> couldn't be very new(?) Maybe the rebuild wasn't all that recent and
> the piano hadn't sold(?)
>
> The back action had been replaced with a Renner kit, but with dampers
> only going up to E6, not up to G6 that is normal in Ds.
>
> Most of the capstans were off the edge of the capstan felt, some
> grossly so, so the action is not aligned properly.
>
> I have improved the spacing of the wips in relation to the capstans,
> and re-timed the dampers to lift properly (they were lifting too early,
> contributing to the heavy action), and have done normal friction
> reduction.
>
> Now the piano is at least playable. Before, the piano wouldn't really
> play above mezzo-piano. Now there is at least a forte.
>
> The question, of course, is, "What do I tell the customer?"

You tell them the truth... and being the capable guy you are.... offer to
straighten the whole mess out for them for a fair price. At least thats
what I would do. Especially if the piano has a decent enough sound. These
kind of jobs are IMO a no loose proposition... you cant help but make a
great improvement.... as long as they are willing to pay for it.

A nicely balanced action... with at least a smooth strike weight line and a
decent leverage figure goes an awfull long ways to satisfying the most
discerning hands.

If you can align the whippens correctly, and they are in good shape, then
the fact that they do not have the adjustable whippen assist spring is no
real problem.  Just balance the keys without them to say 3-5 grams heavier
BW then you want to end up with... and adjust them to make up that very
small difference.

I'm pretty sure you know how to take care of leverage and counterbalancing
concerns to get BW where you want it  Kent, so I'll leave it there. Sounds
all in all like an <<opportunity>> to me !

Cheers
RicB


>
>
> The action really needs to start over, with proper geometry, and the
> proper number of dampers, but...
>
> the piano could probably get by with just some weight reduction in the
> action/hammers.
>
> The stringing and refinish appear to be pretty darn good. The action,
> however, is a mess.
> 3 less dampers than other Ds?
>
> Any ideas?
>
> Thanks for letting me think "out loud".
>
> Kent Swafford
>

--
Richard Brekne
RPT, N.P.T.F.
UiB, Bergen, Norway
mailto:rbrekne@broadpark.no
http://home.broadpark.no/~rbrekne/ricmain.html
http://www.hf.uib.no/grieg/personer/cv_RB.html