[pianotech] Best way to change touch on Yamaha Grand

[Tom Driscoll]

Martin,
 Ditto on Mr. Monroes post on friction.. I performed a day of service on a same size kawai last week that played like a truck.I list in no particular order and at the risk of leaving something out:  Lube and bed keyframe,
Lube keypins and ease keys at balance hole and bushings, Polish capstans and lube , lube rep lever and jacks,knuckles ,wippen cushions and what ever else you can find,reshape hammers  and REGULATE. 
Jacks too far under knuckles for example will make letoff very "resistant"
Sample work up one note with touch weight before and after and more importantly let the client feel the difference.
 Dampers lifting too early with the key could be a problem also.
  Just a few ideas,
 Tom Driscoll

  Subject: Re: [pianotech] Best way to change touch on Yamaha Grand


  Hi Martin,

  Probably a can of worms here, as there really isn't a "right" thing to do without first considering a few things.  I think my first diagnostic would be to assess the friction in the action, and eliminate as much as possible, lubing keypins/bushings, repinning hammers to a low friction level, say 3-4g.  I'd also want to check knuckle condition and bolster/replace and lube them as well.

  My second diagnostic would be to find out how married your client is to the current tone of the piano.  Lightening the hammers gets you great benefit for little cost, but will also change the tone and projection/power of the piano.  Presumably with a 5'3" piano we're not "real" concerned about projection, but it's something to consider.  If the tone is weak, consider filing/shaping hammers and possibly hardening them.  The resulting brighter tone really can make the piano "easier" to play.  Having done this, one is able to work less hard to achieve a particular dynamic level.

  There are a number of more elaborate geometry solutions that may help, including adjusting knuckle placement or capstan position among others.  I'd also want to take a look at the leading and see if I couldn't remove a lead from each key, thereby reducing inertia.  Often high inertia, low DW pianos play harder than lower inertia, higher DW pianos.  Perhaps others will fill in more here.  I wouldn't consider myself an "expert" on action geometry, I just know enough to be dangerous.  ;-]

  Hope this gives you a start.  I think it's really a lot of individual assessment, though with the particular piano in question.

  William R. Monroe



  On Tue, Jan 5, 2010 at 5:37 PM, martin cipolla <pianodoctor at msn.com> wrote:

    My client has developed arthrits and needs to have the action quite a bit lighter on her
    5` 3`` Yamaha Grand.  This is not something I have done before and would appreciate any suggestions on how to lighten the touch for her.
    Thanks,
    Marty



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