<HTML><HEAD> <META charset=US-ASCII http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=US-ASCII"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1106" name=GENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff"> <DIV> <DIV>In a message dated 6/4/2006 8:45:05 AM Pacific Daylight Time, CSPRAGUE4@woh.rr.com writes:</DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid"><FONT face=Arial size=2>How much does the strike line vary in the killer octave region, when this is necessary?  I am having trouble getting consistent tone, right around  F# 5 to D6.  It is great before and after this.  I knew from the talk around the List that sometimes it is necessary to change the strike line in the Killer Octave area to achieve the best tone, but how much is workable?</FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style">Clark,</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style"></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style">Steinways of that age often had hang distances between 5 and 5 1/16". Bore distance and rake can also affect strike line. However, the most sensitive areas are closer to the top, usually not in the 5th octave. I might suspect some other culprit there. Is the plucked ring time good? What kind of hammers are you using? </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style"></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style">As you move the action in and out, you will hear the most change at C88, significant change in the octave below that, and less as you go down. Once you're an octave and a half down, it's pretty subtle.  </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style"></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style">It's also common for the strike line to be shortest right around the strut between the top two sections. Sometimes it wants to curve in, then back out a little closer to the top. I don't remember a lot of trouble with the model A, more with the B and M.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style"></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style">As far as amount goes, 2mm is common, 3mm is not uncommon. I have seen more needed, but not often.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style"></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style">Bob Davis</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>