<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=US-ASCII"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.2873" name=GENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY id=role_body style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #000000; FONT-FAMILY: Arial" bottomMargin=7 leftMargin=7 topMargin=7 rightMargin=7><FONT id=role_document face=Arial color=#000000 size=2> <DIV> <DIV>  <FONT size=3>HI Clark</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3>  Dittos to what Bob & Dave said.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3>  My caveat is that a technique which fine indicator of when enough is enough strike line movement is to listen to the sound of the piano with the soft/ shift pedal down or on & the left string is completely cleared.  Generally in this position a whiny , nasal sound indicates the incorrect strike point & slowly pulling the action forward & listening, using the protocol David L suggests. You  will find the sweet spot where the whine goes away but the power & sustain increase to there maximum potential. For me the best sound occurs by doing this &  the strike line is most often hung in a curve.</FONT> <FONT size=3>Refinement of this kind is possible on most pianos but Stwys are particularly fussy about this.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3>  Aslo remember that Stwy hammers tend to over center as because of  Factory boring recommendations/design & if you are boring them longer I suggest  a 0 rake or pulling them in on the shank a bit will cause you less grief in finding the strike line.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3>  Dale Erwin</FONT></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid"><FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=Arial color=#000000 size=2> <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></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV> <DIV></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT lang=0 face="Book Antiqua" size=2 FAMILY="SERIF" PTSIZE="10"><I>Dale Erwin--Piano Restorations<BR>Modesto, Ca.<BR>Shop 209-577-8397<BR>cell 209-985-0990<BR></FONT><FONT lang=0 face="Book Antiqua" color=#000000 size=3 FAMILY="SERIF" PTSIZE="12"></FONT><FONT lang=0 face="Abadi MT Condensed" color=#000000 size=3 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="12">Web site <A href="http://www.erwinspiano.com/">http://www.Erwinspiano.com</A> </FONT><FONT lang=0 face="Book Antiqua" color=#000000 size=2 FAMILY="SERIF" PTSIZE="10"><BR><B>Restoration & Sales of</B><BR><B>Steinway & Sons plus other fine pianos.<BR>Custom made soundboards by design</B></I></FONT></DIV></FONT></BODY></HTML>