Lightening touch by changing damper timing redux

[Richard Moody]

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The damper timing I thought was determined by the manufacturer.  When =
the
key goes down it meets a couple of resistance points.  One, the end of =
the
key contacting the damper lift lever (but who can feel that?) , and two, =
the
jack contacting the let off button. (which everybody can feel)  Since =
the
contact between the key and damper lift lever is  what, 1/8 inch leeway =
what
difference does it really make?  The most important consideration is =
that
dampers lift as a unit as the damper pedal is depressed so that "half
dampening" can be utilized.=20

I can imagine asking any of the piano makers including Seiler who show =
up
for the National Convention where they prefer the key to hit the damper
lever and why.    ---ric   www.pnotec.com <http://www.pnotec.com/> =20

=20

=20

-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On =
Behalf
Of william ballard
Sent: Wednesday, January 18, 2006 11:04 PM
To: Pianotech List
Subject: Re: Lightening touch by changing damper timing redux

=20

On Jan 18, 2006, at 11:13 PM, Piannaman@aol.com wrote:

I've read opinions about this where some techs say that changing damper
timing "doesn't really lighten the touch, it only gives that =
perception." =20



=20

Remember of course that when we measure touch weights on a grand action, =
the
action is usually on the bench or otherwise separated from the damper
assembly (say, by putting the sustain pedal on). In effect you've made =
the
action feel as those the sustain pedal is on, even when it isn't.





As a piano player, the difference was quite noticeable in terms of =
weight
and control.=20



=20

It's now alot easier to play staccato, but much harder to play legato. =
The
conventional damper timing regulation would favor neither of these,
balancing in the middle between the two of them.

=20

Mr. Bill

=20

"Can you check out this middle C?. It "whangs' - (or twangs?)

    Thanks so much, Ginger"

    ...........Service Request

+++++++++++++++++++++

=20

=20

List,

=20

Some of you may remember that a few months back I was asked to lighten =
the
action in a Seiler 186 grand.  I went about it by raising the damper =
lift to
occur just before letoff.  Instead of getting two bumps--one from damper
lifting underlever and the other from jack hitting button--you get a =
single,
more elongated bump. The method I used at that time was raising the =
damper
wire blocks.  It worked quite well, but it required regulating all of =
the
dampers to lift evenly from the tray as well.  The whole thing took =
around 2
hours.

=20

A couple of days ago, I achieved the same result on an earlier model of
Seiler (180) by bending the spoons upward slightly.  Worked like a =
charm,
and took about 1/4 the time. =20

=20

I've read opinions about this where some techs say that changing damper
timing "doesn't really lighten the touch, it only gives that =
perception."
As a piano player, the difference was quite noticeable in terms of =
weight
and control.  As a tech, I noticed a five gram difference when I =
measured
it. =20

=20

The best two features of this operation?  1).  It works   2).  It's =
easily
reversible.

=20

Dave Stahl

Dave Stahl Piano Service
650-224-3560
http://dstahlpiano.net/ <http://www.dstahlpiano.net/>=20

=20





=20


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