Hi Mark..
Yes... I like the jack a bit looser then the rep lever... but it kinda
has to be tight enough to handle the tension on the spring correctly.
It has to move very quickly and firmly in to be sure... but not more so
then is needed to do the job... otherwise you end up with alot of noise.
Jack slap back noises are fun enough to keep under control as it is if
you get my meaning. To be sure tho... seasonal over tightness is to be
avoided :)
Erics advice has been invaluable for me as well. I liked his last
adjustment for let-off and drop... he fudged on the sacred jack /core
knuckle line just a smidgen. This after a very very fine regulation mind
you... so he could get away with it to the actions benefit and not to
its detriment.
Cheers
RicB
Ric, for awhile I set rep springs on the very light side (and found
an ally in Richard Davenport) but in past years... well heck, I've
pretty much come to agree with everything you said below.
In Canada, Yamaha techs go to Japan rather than the Little Red
Schoolhouse for furtherance, and apparently their mantra for rep.
springs is "Bass like an elephant, tenor like a mouse, and treble
like a cricket..." ;>)
Anyhow, all I can add, is that I prefer the jack pinning fairly
loose. Even though in most cases the spring is shared with the
(tightly-pinned) lever, I'm several times more paranoid about a
jack-center seizing during seasonal change.
Regarding repetition lever height, I value the time (and patience)
Eric Schandall invested back at Steinway, teaching me to feel the
jack return under the knuckle, this remains my favourite final check.
best regards,
Mark Cramer
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