1/2 punching

[Ric Brekne]

Hi there JD.

It all kind of depends on what you want to accomplish, and how much you 
want to pay for it.  The prevailing wind for eons has been kind of a 
twisted take on "its good enough for jazz".  Thats more or less the kind 
of argumentation I get from manufacturers when I ask them why on earth 
they are not adopting David Stanwood standards.  And I hear a lot of 
that kind of reasoning here on pianotech as well.  As for Stanwoods 
stuff... I know too many pianists who simply know immediately whether 
told or not if I've done a  Stanwood like touch weight balancing.  And I 
am darned sure if I got into his pattern leading with all that implies 
of removing old leads and filling up the old holes to start from scratch 
that these same pianists would notice that as well. A good pianists 
finger sensitivity is an amazing thing.

As for the below observation... I'd agree despite earlier practice that 
addresses certain aspects of the key balance point.  Its been rather 
taken for granted... accepted as is as <<good enough>> and perhaps not 
really explored as well as it could be. 

If you check out a keys ratio ala Stanwood on the jig... and then check 
those same keys on the key frame using up and down weight measurements 
with known quantities at the capstan... you find all kinds of 
interesting variant behavior. Adding shims fore and/or aft of the 
balance pin hole judiciously can clean up an awful lot of that. Then too 
is the question of whether or not you want to bring out a kind of two 
fulcrum characteristic to key travel... or not. If and why, if and why 
if you get my meaning... and all if you think its worth bothering with 
or not.

Is it worth it... ?? Certainly for the shop tech doing custom action 
work for discerning pianists.

Cheers
RicB

--------
 >I believe the key balance point is an area that has often been
 >overlooked in regards action refinement...

All this discussion of 1/2 punchings etc. would not be taking place
if piano makers such as Steinway took the trouble to design the
balance rail properly in the first place. ..........

JD