[pianotech] key dip (was gauge)

[David Andersen]

I agree with everyone...but especially Ed Foote when he says
>  "I think we can develop
> our sense of touch as fully as we can our sense of tone and pitch."

I like Dale's gauge, and use it to get close, but the final  
determination with me is touch; my fingers are more sensitive to  
slight distance changes than any player, because it's part of my  
skillset to master that ability. My key travel is ideally 10.2 or  
10.3mm;
to me, aftertouch is not about distance, but about a feeling of  
crispness and solidity; about movement in the action being  
synchronized at a certain moment; and about a safety factor in  
mechanical function.
David A.







On Feb 27, 2009, at 8:09 AM, David Love wrote:

> I agree with developing a sense of touch rather than a weight--less  
> stuff to
> handle and move as well.  For those who don't, though, there are dip  
> weights
> available.  I hadn't thought of permanent spacers with an extender  
> like
> that.  That's a better method, again, less handling of different  
> stuff makes
> things go faster with less stress.
>
> David Love
> www.davidlovepianos.com
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org]  
> On Behalf
> Of A440A at aol.com
> Sent: Friday, February 27, 2009 7:30 AM
> To: pianotech at ptg.org
> Subject: [pianotech] key dip (was gauge)
>
> David writes:
>
> << Cut out a slot in a card
> stock punching that is the thickness of the desired amount of  
> aftertouch.  I
> use .030".  The punching can then be inserted and removed with a  
> pair of
> tweezers easily. <snip> Use a weight do depress the key is you  
> choose.   >>
>
>      I also regulate with an aftertouch priority.   I used tweezers  
> for
> years, but the final arrival of a carpal tunnel problem made me wish  
> I had
> gone
> ahead and made up some permanent spacers much earlier.   It took all  
> of 3
> minutes to cut out and tape cardboard handles to the spacers I use for
> measuring
> aftertouch, (stacks of punchings glued together for various depths),  
> It is
> now
> faster, easier, and I don't spend an hour with my forearm tightened up
> around a
> pair of tweezers!  Blow and let-off settings are both critical to  
> making the
>
> dip consistent!
>    I  would also make a push here for not using a weight, but rather,
> developing a sense in ones finger for feeling escapement and a certain
> amount of
> punching compression as simultaneous events.   With so many variables,
> (ratio,
> weight, resiliency, friction),  not only  the amount, but the nature  
> of the
> resistance at let-off is a critical factor in how trustworthy the  
> piano
> feels at
> pianissimo playing, which is when the highest demands are made for
> consistanty
> in not only aftertouch, but the sudden onset of friction during  
> escapement.
>      I think a well educated finger is capable of leaving an equally
> consistant feel as a weight, which I once used.  I always found I  
> would go
> back and
> change some dips from a thinnest tissue up to maybe pink, just to  
> make them
> feel consistant. Not only are we free one less tool, but I think we  
> can
> develop
> our sense of touch as fully as we can our sense of tone and pitch.  
> We just
> have
> to do the work of using them that way.
>    This is sort of like the difference in aural and machine tuning.   
> The
> highly developed sensual approach is capable of surpassing  mechanical
> results,
> but it takes highly developed ears to hear it, (and be willing to  
> pay for
> it).
>
>
> 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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