Vs: bobbling hammers-1993 Kranich&Bach

[Kirsi Lassi]

- bobbling hammers-1993 Kranich&Bach


Hi

I've come across this problem recently with a large Kawai upright. It is in a school
where the climatic conditions are changing A LOT. Plus it is being moved to another
room and back again every morning, which I think increases all the problems.
I began by doing the "obvious things" (key height, key depth, pilots...) but the
bobbling keeps coming back. I have read with interest your advice, and so far
I've tried all of them. It seems that I have to keep an eye on that instrument
all the time, and every time I go there, it's a different trick that works...
I hope I don't run out of tricks before it is time to start the trick list from the beginning
again.


Kirsi Lassi
Piano Technician
Finland
E-mail: kirsi.lassi@pp.inet.fi
>Dear List,
>I GIVE UP!  I've been trying to help a customer of mine who bought a cheap
>Kranich & Bach (made in Europe, 1993, sold by Baldwin) 42" upright.  This
>piano had double striking or bobbling hammers when I first saw it.  To be
>brief and to the point; I added let-off distance and dip, still some
>bobbling on soft blows, added more, still bobbling at times, then I added
>key height/dip, adjusted checking, and unless you are VERY deliberate and
>get to the very end of each key stroke, IT STILL DOES IT occasionally.
>Maker won't help, they said (basically) that's what you get for buying a
>cheap piano.  Now, the piano is no fun to play and you still get the
>occasional bobble if you're not careful.  
>
>I have come across this problem hundreds of times over the years and have
>always been able to regulate it out, but I can't seem to get this one to
>stop without regulating it out of the comfort zone.  I remember some
>Samicks and Yamahas in the low tenor had this problem due to the angle of
>the surface on the butt where the jack contacts.  Any ideas?  Thanks very
>much!
>Lance Lafargue, RPT
>New Orleans Chapter
>Covington, LA.
>lafargue@iamerica.net
>