Pam Jenkins writes: > Does anyone out there know of a handy source for Steinway Grand regulation > specifications? Pam, American Steinways vary more than other makes, because of the way the actions are set up to the rest of the piano at the factory.Therefore, the regulation has to be done by function rather than specifications. Basically, the pinblock is put into the piano first, the plate is fitted to it, and the action stack follows the string line. This makes the capstan line vary, therefore the leverage, therefore the regulation. They also vary leverage by age, as the older ones used shorter knuckle placement than the post -1984 ones, and there are some more variables. That said, most of the earlier ones work out at about 1-3/4" blow (1-7/8" for the Model D and some B's), letoff between 1/16th" and 1/32", drop at about 1/16+" below that, dip at about .390-.400 on the shorter models and .390 on the B&D. You need aftertouch of about .050". Checking should be set "as high as possible" and will usually be about 5/8". Some of the later pianos won't tolerate that much blow without causing the dip to be too deep. You can cheat the touch depth a little, but you don't want it to go any deeper than about .410. It is more likely you will have to cheat the blow. So functionally, the dip is variable within very small limits (about .380 to .410), the blow is variable, and the rest is somewhat fixed by most sensitive performance. Closest letoff will produce more sensitivity on a very soft blow, but you don't want it that close except on a constantly maintained piano. High checking will cause better repetition, but you don't want it so close the tail drags (on the way up) on the check on a hard blow, and so forth. I'm assuming you're not asking for the rest of the regulating procedure, like travel, spacing, and shift clearance of the hammers, balancier height, jack angle, and so forth, but if I'm wrong, post again. Good luck, Bob Davis Stockton, CA
This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC