Hi list. I face again the same old problem of a client of mine who's been told by an authorized concert pianist that her beautiful piano (Bechstein model D) had too light a touch for her to train properly. The static downweight is for now tapered from 52 grams in the bass to 47 grams in the treble. To my fingers, the weight feel is medium and the action plays quite well. How do you all address this issue ? I know that the easy undoable way is to add clip leads at the back of the keys, but won't this affect the responsiveness and repetition performance of the action ? Clips on the hammer shanks will also alter the sound (maybe for better in the bass, but certainly for worse in the treble). I would prefer redoing the front weighting (cost is not an issue in this case). But then, what are the reasonable limits in which we can work ? Should I add 2 grams to all downweights ? 5 grams ? 10 grams ? My client is a young girl with small hands (gifted, for sure), and the guy who told her her piano is too light is more the Russian kind of KGB security agent pianist. I fear for tendinitis behind the corner. No way my explanations could ever balance the authorized advise of the super graduated banger. But your advise will certainly balance my lack of experience in this matter (I always refused up till now to alter the factory specs). Thanks in advance. Best regards. Stéphane Collin.
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