Oorebeeks Punch'ns

[Erwinspiano@aol.com]

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HI Roger
   Very nicely articulated points. I especially like  the idea of let off 
punchings. Now that's an EXCELLENT Idea. BTW On My  Stwy D Rick Wheeler made the 
key set out of bass wood with big long  maple shoes. Bass wood is tiffer than 
sugar pine & and equally as stable. He  also strengthened the key frame arch & 
I beleive that pianist of  all abilities can sense the solidity & security 
that comes  from  very low action saturation created by stiff keys,frame  & 
Andres punchings. Now that's a good combination.
    Your idea of  removing old paper  punchings and using thick cards & as 
little paper as needed is  another value added component of custom rebuilding. 
  So many things add up to a precisely controlled piano  action.
   Thanks
   Dale

Hi  Ric,
For  several reasons.

#1.   I think this is probably the most  important reason.  The Psychosomatic 
effect on the pianist.    Well defined after touch gives the advanced player 
a great sense of  security.   They play in a far more relaxed manner knowing 
that  every key will behave in precisely the same manner. The tone they create  
becomes much sweeter and more controlled in the middle ranges. Comments  
like:  Is the touch deep or shallow, are invariably connected to after  touch and 
not depth.    ( I am talking about a well regulated  concert piano, before 
some one howls about the actual depth.)
Concert  pianos that I look after regularly have had the felt punching ironed 
so they  are consistent. Sharp punching are turned over annually to ensure 
the key hits  a flat surface..( Sharp punching's groove with heavy playing and 
should be  turned over each time dip is adjusted)   Good pianist love  
consistent after touch, I am not so sure that they care about an exact  amount.  Now 
there is a can of worms. How much after touch is deemed to  be correct?

#2   Stephanie, raises a valid point about key  frame noise and flex.  This 
addition of unwanted tone is a serious  factor. When rebuilding Steinway's, the 
superior Oak frames of the  1920's.  gives clear evidence of a quieter and 
more responsive  action.  Resulting in better tone control. PS. I am not a lover 
of cheap  soft  wood action frames, for the same reason that Andre does not 
like  mushy punching's.  The soft wood frames absorb too much energy. Lowering  
the action saturation point.   On a well regulated / voiced Yamaha  do this 
test. Really hit the note adjacent to the centre glide bolt, then do  the same 
to a note mid point to the next glide bolt.  You will hear a  slight 
difference in tone, and feel a response difference.

#3  Key  flex. This is related to the action saturation problem.  The more  
efficiently we can transfer energy from key tip to shank the better the tone  
control. Nothing new here, this is why maple shoes are use on concert pianos  
to stiffen the key.   A flexing key will alter the sensation of  after touch. 
On a hard blow it will give the sensation of no after  touch.  A Baldwin SD10 
will regulate to a much more refined after touch  than a Steinway D. Cry all 
you want about Baldwin pianos. but the key sticks  are vastly superior. Sugar 
pine keysticks, with long maple shoes, and good  long maple buttons.

#4  Andre.  I have noticed a difference  in tone when removing the big pile 
of paper/thin card punching's often found  in grands. And replacing them with a 
few very thick card punching's. Add to  this, Ironing the felt between brown 
paper, it makes a big improvement in  consistent dip and after touch.

Moral of the above points:    The pianist works with after touch to create 
tone. Any and all things that we  can do, to make this accurate and reliable, 
the happier our clients will  be.

Andre, you have started me thinking.    OMG that's  dangerous ;-)   Have you 
tried let off buttons with Wurzen  felt?  Again we find that they are all over 
the map in quality and  density.  When replacing them.  We first iron then 
with a damp  cloth, to shrink them, then dry iron.  It makes a big difference in 
how  the let off and drop regulates.

Warm  regards.
Roger





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