Key Lead Replacement

[David Ilvedson]

Don't accept antlers for payment...

David Ilvedson, RPT
Pacifica, CA  94044

----- Original message ----------------------------------------
From: "David Love" <davidlovepianos at comcast.net>
To: "Pianotech List" <pianotech at ptg.org>
Received: 11/29/2007 10:11:10 PM
Subject: RE: Key Lead Replacement




>The acceptable minimal approach is to replace with the leads the same size.
>Weigh a couple to see if they are in the same ballpark weight and then just
>wholesale it: 2-4 hours depending on how easily they come out and how many
>split keys you have to repair plus cost of leads, pick up and delivery,
>etc..    Yamaha leads are usually bigger (not your standard 1/2" leads) but
>if it's not a grey market you can get replacement leads from Yamaha.  The
>next least cost approach would be to duplicate the front weights.  Next
>would be to weigh off the action (up and down weights) and calculate the
>change in front weight per key to bring in a uniform balance weight then
>change the leads accordingly.  After that would be create a smooth strike
>weight and then do the weigh off.  

>In this case I would get replacement leads from Yamaha and simply duplicate
>what's there. Since it's for the Elk's, tell them it might cost a few bucks.


>David Love
>davidlovepianos at comcast.net
>www.davidlovepianos.com  

>-----Original Message-----
>From: Farrell <mfarrel2 at tampabay.rr.com>
>To: pianotech at ptg.org
>Sent: Thu, 29 Nov 2007 1:08 pm
>Subject: Key Lead Replacement
>Looked at a 30 yo (guess) Yamaha G2 grand today with keys sticking. It has
>growing key leads. Never seen that on a Yamaha before. Grinding marks on
>many of the keys indicate that the leads were ground down previously. I'm
>recommending that they replace all key leads.
> 
>I've leaded keys as part of setting up an action. But I've never just
>blindly replaced the leads, trying to duplicate the original setup. I know
>that the owners definitely want to go minimal cost with this one (Elk's
>Lodge).
> 
>Seems to me leads are often of slightly different sizes, lengths, etc. If
>you are not carefully measuring Front Weights, etc., what the heck do you
>do? Seems to me the fastest way would be to pop the old lead out, weigh it,
>grab a lead of the same diameter, trim it to the original weight and
>install. Or is that just too trashy an approach? Do I tell them that we need
>to do a traditional weigh-off (but we can't because action center friction
>hasn't been addressed, etc.)? Evaluate the original FW curve and duplicate
>it (but that will mean some plugging, etc., i.e. more cost)? What is an
>acceptable, minimal approach?
> 
>Thanks.
> 
>Terry Farrell
>Farrell Piano
> 
>www.farrellpiano.com
>terry at farrellpiano.com

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