[pianotech] Bass Key Slap

[David Nereson]

    Or the left (bass) keyblock screw isn't tight, or the 
keyframe guide pin hold-down is loose or isn't really holding 
down the left end of the keyframe, thus allowing the end of the 
keyframe to sit above the keybed a tiny bit, and slapping 
against it when playing the lowest keys.  Also check the damper 
upstop rail and the keystop rail for loose screws.
    --David Nereson, RPT

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Don Mannino" <donmannino at ca.rr.com>
To: <pianotech at ptg.org>
Sent: Tuesday, March 29, 2011 5:28 PM
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Bass Key Slap


> My first thought is the keyframe needs bedding.
>
> Don Mannino
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org 
> [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
> Of Arlie Rauch
> Sent: Tuesday, March 29, 2011 4:27 PM
> To: pianotech at ptg.org
> Subject: [pianotech] Bass Key Slap
>
> I was tuning a customer's Steinway today, and she wanted me to 
> look also at
> her Schimmel grand.  She heard noises, in the key she thought, 
> in the lowest
> notes.  I couldn't hear it at first, but then I did when 
> thumping the lowest
> 8 or so notes--it sounded like a slap when the bottom of the 
> key contacted
> the front rail felt.  First I thought maybe the front rail 
> felt is too hard,
> but on my hour-drive home, I thought maybe the cause is 
> elsewhere.  Why can
> you hear that on the lowest bass notes, but when you play up 
> higher the
> sound is gone?  Maybe something is loose at the bass end in 
> the action or
> the keybed.  Any suggestions?  I hope to remedy this sometime 
> when I go
> back.
>
> Arlie Rauch
> Glendive, MT
>
>