[pianotech] key dip (was gauge)

[erwinspiano at aol.com]

Hi David?& Ed
? In conjunction to using this gauge I also have developed a strong sense of gauging the after touch necessary with my finger tip. ?I can not stress Ed's point enough as the need for hammer blow & let-off being? extremely precise.?That said, when this is right the key travel/dip can be set very precisely with this gauge without a lot of subjectivity.
? To me it's like getting the dip extremely close in a similar was as an acu-tuner doing a pitch raise can get close to the final pitch before fine tuning.
? Dale




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

---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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