You can't expect to put a set of hammers on a piano without an analysis of weight and leverage and not expect to have a problem. Changing wippens won't make any significant difference in terms of the overall weight of the action. It could, in fact, make it heavier as Renner wippens weigh a bit more than Steinway wippens. Either will straightening the capstan (assuming the same location). There are a couple of ways to approach this type of analysis. I prefer Stanwood's method. It's a bit long to go into here but there is abundant information available if you are interested. If you don't want to do that, or can't, and if you liked the action the way it was originally, then you will have to replace the shanks with one that has a similarly placed knuckle and duplicate each of the hammer weights as precisely as possible. For that you will need at least a gram scale and the ability to taper the hammers to get the appropriate weight. You will also have to choose a hammer that will allow you to achieve the desired weight. Some hammers are just too heavy to begin with. This isn't the best approach but it will at least get you back where you started. David Love davidlovepianos@earthlink.net > [Original Message] > From: Jonno Clarke <jonnotune@hotmail.com> > To: <pianotech@ptg.org> > Date: 6/27/2003 9:07:22 AM > Subject: older steinway grands > > I wonder if anyone can help me with the question of what to do about older > Steinway grand actions, the type that have the sloping back capstans. I > always find that when fitting new (Abel) hammers to these pianos that the > touch becomes rather on the heavy side - would it help to remove the > capstans fill the keys and re-tap and then fit the capstans like on newer > pianos ?. The client doesn't want to fit new whippens and the be fair there > is really nothing wrong with the old ones. The problem is that the hammers > are worn out and need replacing. Help please ! > > _________________________________________________________________ > Stay in touch with absent friends - get MSN Messenger > http://www.msn.co.uk/messenger > > _______________________________________________ > pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives
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