Regulating Key-Dip

[William R. Monroe]

Hi Mark,

I'd recommend shimming the hammer rest rail first to get the blow distance 
appropriate.  Then you can regulate the piano with a reasonable dip.

As far as setting sharps, I usually rough in the sharp dip with a gauge, 
then fine tune by feel.  That is to say that I want to have the same sensory 
perception when depressing a sharp as when depressing a natural.  So, using 
both forefingers, slowly depress a natural through its full range of motion. 
Slow, like slow enough to not make the hammer strike the string, but not 
really any slower than that.  Then do the same with the adjacent sharp, then 
the next natural.  What you are doing here is comparing the feel of the 
naturals (which you have already accurately set) with the sharp.  Then 
adjust as necessary until it's right.

Best,
William R. Monroe


>I have an old Hackley upright in which the hammers have probably
> been shaped a couple of times. I have had no problems with the
> regulation on the instrument.
> However,  I think that I read someplace that the key-dip on this could
> be adjusted as low as 1/2".
> My question is if I do adjust the white keys to a 1/2" key dip, how
> would I measure the black keys so that they also have the same
> amount of dip?
> Also, what are the deciding factors of exactly how deep to set this
> key-dip?
>
> Thank you
>
> Mark D.
> Montbriand