[pianotech] Understanding Aftertouch

[Tom Servinsky]

No, just my quiet thoughts.. You get my point.
Buy the way, today I was installing parts on a Baldwin action for an artist. As I was installing the front punchings (the Crescendo conical styled punchings) it occurred to me of the relationship aftertouch had with these type of front punchings. 
I've always marveled at the qualitative feel these punchings have. Some refer to the feel as a definite landing. Some describe them in other ways.  I'm  now wondering if part what feels so  friendly is the tiny bit of fudge factor in keydip from ppp to fff play. At ppp there's still plenty of firmness, but at fff play, the firmness is there plus a little bit of cushion from the upward pressure. No doubt, these are all contributing factors which are figured into regulating, and more specifically,setting aftertouch. 
Tom Servinsky
Tom
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Ryan Sowers 
  To: pianotech at ptg.org 
  Sent: Saturday, April 18, 2009 1:21 PM
  Subject: Re: [pianotech] Understanding Aftertouch


  Tom, you didn't! That's sounds like a diplomatic disaster!

    . Try explaining that to  an artist in front of a $100,000 concert grand on a major venue with 3 hrs before showtime.


    Tom Servinsky
      ----- Original Message ----- 
      From: David Nereson 
      To: pianotech at ptg.org 
      Sent: Saturday, April 18, 2009 4:48 AM
      Subject: Re: [pianotech] Understanding Aftertouch


      Hello,
       
      I am trying to grasp the production and feeling of Aftertouch in a fine regulation.  Can anyone explain how much a person who plays the piano normally can feel or tell if there is aftertouch.  

          I would say that it's mainly semi-pro's and pro's who would notice the amount of aftertouch, or whether there's some or none.  The average casual player doesn't even notice when there's too much lost motion (in a vertical) or too-wide let-off until you point it out.  

      I have read all of the PACE materials on the subject and some other sources, and while they explain how much in thousands the key dip might continue and looking for wippen and hammer rise they don't say how much for the last two.  It seems that viewing hammer rise to gauge aftertouch would be the easiest to determine.

      Yes, that and the damper.    
       
      So how much does or should the hammer rise be?

      There's no set answer for all pianos.  It depends on the player's preference.  Just so there's some.  I'd say if the hammer rises more than about 1/8", that's getting excessive.   
       
      When the cycle of let off and drop is complete how much pressure on the key is needed to see or feel the aftertouch that is or is not present?  (the pressure required to push a button on an elevator or enough to feel the FR punching compressing)

      If there's any aftertouch at all, and (this is important) if you depress the key slowly enough, drop should happen before the key bottoms out, or just as it's starting to compress the punching.  You shouldn't have to exert extra compressing force into the punching to make the hammer finish letting off or to drop.  That would be no aftertouch.
          [I don't have experience with the conical punchings.]  
           --David Nereson, RPT
       
       Steven Hopp
      Midland, TX



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  -- 
  Ryan Sowers, RPT
  Puget Sound Chapter
  Olympia, WA
  www.pianova.net
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