basic regulating question

[A440A at aol.com]

Gregor writes:

>I never regulate aftertouch but first  

> at all key height and key dip. For me, key dip is not negotiable in  

> the meaning of having a window of 9.5 to 10.5 mm but of course for  

> *all* keys the same. At least for the white keys. I accept small  

> differences for the black keys.

        Why do you accept small differences in some of the keys?

>For me, aftertouch is not a measure to regulate but the result of all  

> the other regulating steps. If aftertouch is uneven, I correct it  

> with slight adjustments of let-off, but never of white key dip  

> (that is what I mean by *not negotiable*). >>

         I have found that artists a FAR more sensitive to let-off 
irregularites than they are slight changes in keydip.   If I had to alter anything to 
make the after-touch even while keeping the same key-dip, it would be the blow!  
But I submit that keydip is less important than aftertouch. 
      At the very top of the line regulation, I alter keydip AND blow so that 
aftertouch is identical.  When doing this, I first set the keydip to a static 
value and make sure all keys are equal.  If, with an consistant blow, I have 
unequal aftertouch, I will move the keydip as much as .010" and the blow as 
much as .060" from the predetermined specs.  The effect of splitting the 
difference like this,(between the dip and blow)  is to make all the irregularities 
fall below the threshold of even the most sensitive pianists.  
    I have never seen any pianist notice .010" difference in keydip if the 
aftertouch was even, but I have been called back for having less than 1/16" 
difference between let-offs, (Ronnie Milsap is able to tell instantly if the 
let-off is not exactly even, but he never noticed the slight difference in dip.)
Regards,  



Ed Foote RPT 
http://www.uk-piano.org/edfoote/index.html
www.uk-piano.org/edfoote/well_tempered_piano.html
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