punchings leveling

[Farrell]

Comments below:

Terry Farrell
  
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Gerald Posey" <poseyviolins@charter.net>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Saturday, February 23, 2002 12:22 AM
Subject: punchings leveling


> I hope there is room on the list for beginners. 

Yes, of course. If it were not, I would be in deep.........

> I have rebuilt two uprights
> and am now doing my first grand.  Of course, I have many questions.  The one
> I wrestling with now is key dip and key leveling.  The information I have
> says to decrease key dip by removing center shims.

Don't do it!!!!!!!!!

>  If I do that, then they
> won't be level.  

Right you are!!!!!!!!

> To level them would mean putting the shims back in. 

Right, so don't take 'em out if the keys are at the right height.

> Is is
> right to add shims to the front to decrease key dip?

Absolutely. That is the proper way to do it - assuming the keys are at the right height at the center rail and at the backrail (did you use the proper thickness of back rail cloth, if you replaced it).

>     On a related note (?) what is aftertouch?  It sounds like an adjustment
> of something after the key has travelled the required 3/8".

In a word: Exactly (almost). Aftertouch is the amount of key travel after let-off (very important distinction - the 3/8" thing is largely meaningless - you will find that most - not all by any means - pianos need a bit more than 3/8" dip - often closer to about 0.40" - a few even more). You need a bit of aftertouch so that the jack clears the knuckle on a grand, or the butt on the upright. Plus it just feels better with a nice little bit of aftertouch. I'm sure the more learned can expand on this for you. Normal range for aftertouch will be somewhere between a low of perhaps 0.010" to a high of maybe 0.060". Many say the thickness of a penny (somewhere about .050"????). On and everyday piano that will likely not be regulated for many years, I usually go with about 0.040" - but I'm a bit of a beginner myself. 

>     Hopefully, my naive questions are easy to answer.

Sure. Do you have any reference material? Likely the most basic text on the subject is Relitz (and it is a very good reference). Fire away with any questions. It gives me practice without screwing up any pianos in my shop! (Oh, boy, that really gives the guy confidence!!! - just kidding).

> Gerald
>