METHOD

[Jon Page]

Start with levelling the keys (keyframe bedded, of course).

Rough-in dip (slightly deep) with keydip block.

Set hammer line, regulate and get the jacks in a straight line.
(all repinning and prep-work has already been done).

With the action back in the piano, spot level the keys and set the dip
with a consistent finger pressure with a block. One way to insure adequate 
dip on
the sharps is to have the backchecks even with the naturals' backchecks
while in the rest position, set sharps' dip to make the sharps check-in
height equal to the naturals check-in height (the sharps must not go
below the level of the naturals).

Regulate again. If the aftertouch is not acceptable then the capstans may 
be in the
wrong location (If the hammers are new). If the hammers are old they may be 
too short.

I have found that by simply correcting the angle at which the capstan is 
set in the key
(sometimes without changing the Key Ratio)  the jack will escape the 
knuckle ideally.

Look for what is causing the discrepancy and assess the feasibility of 
correction.

To me, aftertouch is an automatic by-product of a regulation. If something 
makes
this so dramatically different between notes to require altering the dip 
from note to
note, I would rather correct the problem with the poor geometry/leverage to 
produce
consistency.

Regards,


Jon Page,   piano technician
Harwich Port, Cape Cod, Mass.
mailto:jonpage@mediaone.net
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