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<DIV><FONT size=2><EM>Dale Erwin wrote:</EM></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2><FONT size=2><EM></EM></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2><EM><FONT size=3>...A Case in point, if you take =
stwy player
grands with that extra long key (3 inches)? with low amounts of lead it =
would be
possible to carry any amount of hammer weight you wished. It's a better =
lever or
has the potential to be with appropriate stack geometry.<BR> Hey =
the real
problem is that keys in general are just to danged short. But really on =
smaller
pianos they are and that's why more action balancing gymnastics are
required...</FONT><BR></EM></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2><EM></EM></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>I think that the role of short keys is somewhat =
misunderstood
here. The length of the key will make no difference in the =
leverage from
the point that the measurements are taken (presumably out near the end =
of the
key). The key ratio is all that matters in this case. =
A key
with a .50 key ratio that is 36 inches long will produce the same =
action
ratio as a key with a .50 ratio that is 12 inches long all other =
things
being equal. The difference lies in what happens as you play the =
key in
from the measurement point. A longer key will show less difference =
in
force required to move (or balance) it per increment of distance =
traveled
toward the balance rail than a shorter key. Since pianos tend to =
be played
"into" the keys more than on the tips, a short key will feel heavier in =
the
course of normal playing than will a longer key even if the ratios, =
strike
weights, front weights, etc., are all equal. But as far as =
approaches
in setting up the action, there would be no real =
difference. That is,
unless you felt that because of this particular difference it would be =
better to
set up a shorter key with lower balance weight, front weights or strike =
weights,
which, in fact, might not be a bad idea. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Yet another way to think of all this might be to =
figure out
where on average the key is actually depressed from and =
take measurements
and make calculations from there. This would factor the length of =
the key
into the equation. On actions with very long keys, such as concert =
grands,
little change from current designs would be necessary, but on shorter =
keysticks,
lighter weights would tend to prevail. This also might help to =
explain how
actions set up with the same ratios, strike weights and front weights =
feel
different. Differences in key length create larger
variances in balance weight as you move in toward the balance
rail. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>David Love</FONT></DIV>
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