<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:st1="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40" xmlns:ns0="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"> <head> <meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 11 (filtered medium)"> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PostalCode"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="State"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PersonName"/>  <style>  </style> </head> <body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=blue> <div class=Section1> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Let me preface my comments with a confession: I am not the grand regulation expert on this list. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>I’m not sure what you are saying here, Scott. It seems to me that the Spurlock tool is excellent particularly when there is varying string slopes and heights. Set the blow distance on the section end hammers, along with let off, then the height on the hammers in between. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Assuming the strings on that section are in some sort of plane, then the blow distance on each hammer should be good. Use the Spurlock tool to set let off and drop. Repeat the process for each section. This should make the blow distance the same for each note regardless of section slope, along with let off. If blow distance and let off are the same, key dip should be right there, with some latitude for after touch. Of course there are some other factors that come into play, but I don’t see how using this method will result in differing key dips when there is string slope. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>If you vary the bore distances I still don’t think it will matter when it comes to key dip. What matters are how much the hammer travels, how close it gets to the string, and how much after touch you build in. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <div> <p class=MsoAutoSig><b><font size=6 color=navy face="Bradley Hand ITC"><span style='font-size:22.0pt;font-family:"Bradley Hand ITC";color:navy;font-weight: bold'>Dean</span></font></b><font color=navy><span style='color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoAutoSig style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><u1:PersonName u2:st="on"><st1:PersonName w:st="on"><font size=3 color=navy face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:navy'>Dean May</span></font></st1:PersonName><font color=navy><span style='color:navy'></u1:PersonName>             cell 812.239.3359 <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoAutoSig style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><font size=3 color=navy face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:navy'>PianoRebuilders.com   812.235.5272 <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoAutoSig style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><u1:place u2:st="on"><u1:City u2:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on"><font size=3 color=navy face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:navy'>Terre Haute</span></font></st1:City></st1:place><font color=navy><span style='color:navy'></u1:City> <u1:State u2:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">IN</u1:State></st1:State>  <u1:PostalCode u2:st="on"><st1:PostalCode w:st="on">47802</u1:PostalCode></st1:PostalCode></st1:place></span></font><o:p></o:p></p> </div> <div> <div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> <hr size=2 width="100%" align=center tabindex=-1> </span></font></div> <p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Tahoma;font-weight:bold'>From:</span></font></b><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'> pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>On Behalf Of </span></b>Scott Nelson<br> <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Friday, June 22, 2007 8:56 AM<br> <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> <st1:PersonName w:st="on">Pianotech List</st1:PersonName><br> <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> RE: Keep on filing...</span></font><o:p></o:p></p> </div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size: 12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size: 12.0pt'>Hi everyone,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size: 12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size: 12.0pt'>The Spurlock tool for let-off is terrific for checking your consistency from note to note, but normally there is a drawback to its use. Because of the varying string height levels, there is often a considerable discontinuity between sections (such as between notes 26 and 27 at the break) . The Spurlock tool will align all the shanks in a straight but often sloped line(depending on the relative heights of the shanks) between the end points of each section.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size: 12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size: 12.0pt'>If the hammer bore compensates for the varying string height across the piano, all the shanks can be level (identical rotation) and the distance of the hammer from the string <br> can be the same. Unfortunately, most manufacturers instruments are bored with only 2 specs: bass and treble, so under these circumstances it is necessary either to have the shanks not level, or to set them level and vary the distance of the hammers from the string during let-off.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size: 12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size: 12.0pt'>I have been experimenting with a full-length jig across all 88 shanks that is based on the Spurlock jig. I set the let-off as close as is practical to the lowest 2 strings (that is, in height) and then adjust the jig to where it just clicks as the jack brushes the knuckle. The other shanks are then set to where they just click as well, a la Spurlock. It is amazing how consistent you can set the escapement-almost imperceptible movements of the let-off dowel will change the clicking quite visibly and audibly.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size: 12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size: 12.0pt'>This procedure, of course, leaves the letoff distance from the string rather far on many notes where the string height is higher than the samples. ( I also set the "hammer blow distance " <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size: 12.0pt'>to vary as well so the start point is level, again, the hammer shanks ). I suppose the question is, barring a compensated hammer boring, whether this procedure will result in a more consistent touch, especially at pianissimo, although you are giving up the idea of " the <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size: 12.0pt'>hammer as close to the string as possible" idea. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size: 12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size: 12.0pt'>It is interesting also to observe what happens if you if you first set the let-off so the hammer is an equal distance from each string as well as the blow distance. When you then check with the jig, you will clearly see that your letoff and blow distance lines follow the string height variances.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size: 12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size: 12.0pt'>Incidentally, if you set your blow distance samples and then use the stretcher or a straightedge to set the rest, following which you were to set the let-off an equal distance from the strings, your aftertouch would vary unless the string heights were all equal, and you would have to compromise key dip and/or height to make it consistent. This is the main reason I have been trying this method lately. It is hard to judge whether or not this way is more consistent, but so far the comments about the piannissimo touch have been very positive.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size: 12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size: 12.0pt'>I would be interested in any of your comments regarding this matter.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size: 12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size: 12.0pt'>Thanks, <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size: 12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size: 12.0pt'>Scott Nelson, RPT<br> <st1:PersonName w:st="on"><b><i><span style='font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>Dean May</span></i></b></st1:PersonName><b><i><span style='font-weight:bold; font-style:italic'> <deanmay@pianorebuilders.com></span></i></b> wrote:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </div> <blockquote style='border:none;border-left:solid #1010FF 1.5pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 4.0pt; margin-left:3.75pt;margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>I would also heartily recommend you purchase this tool from Spurlock: <a href="http://www.spurlocktools.com/id24.htm">http://www.spurlocktools.com/id24.htm</a>  <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>I love it. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Stop relying on your eyesight to set all let-offs and drops. Just set each section end hammer in the piano.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>To set the let off on the section ends I use a mute wire with a 90 degree bend about 3/8 in from the end. The wire is slightly more than 1 mm thick. If the wire is too thin, flatten it with a hammer to make it as thick as you want the let off.  Hold the bent end under the strike point of the strings and bring the hammer up to the wire. Raise the let off button until the hammer touches your wire right at the let off point. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Then pull action, set it on the table, and use this tool to perfectly set the rest. The instructions say to use it to set the let off. I also use it for the drop. After setting the let off, just turn the drop screw up while holding the key down. When the hammer comes off the rail turn the screw down just a little past the hammer coming back onto the rail. Like Andrew, I like the drop right at the let off.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Did I mention that I love the Spurlock tool (as with every Spurlock tool I’ve purchased)?<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </div> <div> <div style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'> <p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=6 color=navy face="Bradley Hand ITC"><span style='font-size:22.0pt;font-family:"Bradley Hand ITC";color:navy;font-weight: bold'>Dean</span></font></b><font color=navy><span style='color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </div> <div><u2:PersonName u3:st="on"> <p class=MsoNormal><u4:PersonName u5:st="on"><st1:PersonName w:st="on"><font size=3 color=navy face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt; color:navy'>Dean May</span></font></st1:PersonName><font color=navy><span style='color:navy'></u4:PersonName></u2:PersonName>             cell 812.239.3359 <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=navy face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:navy'>PianoRebuilders.com   812.235.5272 <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </div> <div><u2:place u3:st="on"><u2:City u3:st="on"> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size: 12.0pt'><ns0:place w:insAuthor="HP Authorized Customer" w:insDate="2007-06-23T10:15:00Z" w:endInsAuthor="HP Authorized Customer" w:endInsDate="2007-06-23T10:15:00Z"><ns0:City w:insAuthor="HP Authorized Customer" w:insDate="2007-06-23T10:15:00Z" w:endInsAuthor="HP Authorized Customer" w:endInsDate="2007-06-23T10:15:00Z"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on"><font color=navy><span style='color:navy'>Terre Haute</span></font></st1:City></st1:place></ns0:City></u2:City></ns0:place><font color=navy><span style='color:navy'> </span></font><ns0:State w:insAuthor="HP Authorized Customer" w:insDate="2007-06-23T10:15:00Z" w:endInsAuthor="HP Authorized Customer" w:endInsDate="2007-06-23T10:15:00Z"><u2:State u3:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on"><font color=navy><span style='color:navy'>IN</u2:State></span></font></st1:State></ns0:State><font color=navy><span style='color:navy'>  <u2:PostalCode u3:st="on"></span></font><ns0:PostalCode w:insAuthor="HP Authorized Customer" w:insDate="2007-06-23T10:15:00Z" w:endInsAuthor="HP Authorized Customer" w:endInsDate="2007-06-23T10:15:00Z"><st1:PostalCode w:st="on"><font color=navy><span style='color:navy'>47802</u2:PostalCode></span></font></st1:PostalCode></ns0:PostalCode><o:p></o:p></span></font></st1:place></p> </div> </div> <div> <div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> <hr size=2 width="100%" align=center tabIndex=-1> </span></font></div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Tahoma;font-weight:bold'>From:</span></font></b><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'> pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>On Behalf Of </span></b>Andrew and Rebeca Anderson<br> <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Wednesday, June 20, 2007 10:54 AM<br> <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> <ns0:PersonName w:insAuthor="HP Authorized Customer" w:insDate="2007-06-23T10:15:00Z" w:endInsAuthor="HP Authorized Customer" w:endInsDate="2007-06-23T10:15:00Z"><st1:PersonName w:st="on">Pianotech List</st1:PersonName></ns0:PersonName><br> <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> Re: Keep on filing...</span></font><o:p></o:p></p> </div> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size: 12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Danilo,<br> With the repetition at rest and the hammers rotated up and out of the way, the jack top should be below the yoke of the balancier.  Ideally not much below.  This is necessary lost motion in order to permit the jack to re-set.  You can check by using a card and dragging it over the yoke.  If the card catches on the jack, the jack is too high.<br> A Steinway regulation method to check this when the hammer is resting on the repetitions is to press the jack tender down, let go and the jack should reset winking the hammer a little.  If the hammer doesn't wink, you have more lost motion then necessary.  If the jack cannot reset consistently, you don't have enough.<br> <br> I like to regulate drop close to the strings and I like to have drop and let-off coincide.  This does make the instruments more weather sensitive as a 1 - 1.5 mil drop is not much where humidity related wood movement is concerned.  Of-course the instruments that get that kind of regulation are usually climate controlled here.<br> <br> This requires a definite but slow rise of the hammer with the repetition spring.  Springs are not easy to get just so and you will have to develop the skill of setting them by repeated effort until you start getting the result you want.  You want to be able to avoid bubbling/double-striking which occurs when balancier pinning is too loose and or when the spring is too strong.<br> <br> It is important to note that many action adjustments are interactive with other adjustments.  That is, when you change one, the other is thrown out.  On a new piano or when an action is worn, I will go through several times adjusting and readjusting as things get closer to ideal.  You may want to obtain an action regulation book that takes you through the steps in order of greatest efficiency.  Yamaha sells a video from their website on action adjustments.  I recommend it.  There are some differences in approach between instruments, Steinway follows a slightly different procedure for example, but the overall illustration is worth becoming familiar with visually.<br> <br> Andrew Anderson, Artisan Piano<br> <br> At 08:12 AM 6/20/2007, you wrote:<br> <br> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </div> <div style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>Thanks, Tony, I enjoyed this mail!<br> </span></font><br> <font size=2><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>I use this Steinway O to give concerts in this church. A few years back I had a tuner tune it. When he was finished, I asked him "So, any problems? -No. Loose pins? -No. False beats? -No Action issues? -No." I was quite baffled. I even tried to convince him that something must be improvable by playing a bit and asking "Is this or that really supposed to be like this, ideally? -Yes, it's fine." Then he added "Just avoid the sun, it makes it go out of tune faster." Well, it gave me another reason to teach myself. On the opposite end, I gave a recital in a church on a 70's Steinway B, which the organist had hired someone to renovate for ca $15000. The members of his constitution were forever complaining "Did you really have to spend so much money?" He asked me to help him out by taking every opportunity to praise the instrument. Which I dutifully did. "The best piano I've ever played on, it's as good as a brand new one, and they cost bla bla, it's amazing what value you can get from such a perfect restoration!" It was easy, as I was speaking the truth...<br> </span></font><br> <font size=2><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>About the position of the jack, you wrote<br> "..the repetition regulating screw at the hammer end of the repetition lever requires adjusting to allow the top of the jack to be just below the top of the repetition lever."<br> I thought it was suppposed to be just above the top of the repetition lever? And I've adjusted it that way. Please be so kind as to confirm this! Or do you mean the position of the jack at the moment the hammer is released from check and lifted up by the repetion lever?<br> </span></font><br> <font size=2><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>"Your drop screw may be too low stopping the repetition lever going up high enough"<br> I've set it to make the drop about a mm or so, relying on my eyesight.<br> You've given me some new things to look out for, so next time I get to the instrument, I'll check everything carefully: I'll try to add some weight to the hammer shank (someone wrote somewhere about wrapping a bit of solderingmetal around the shank?) and carefully observe the relative positions of the jack/repetitionlever from rest to full depression of the key and back. Anything else I should think of?<br> </span></font><br> <font size=2><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>Thanks! Danilo</span></font><o:p></o:p></p> </div> <div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> <hr size=2 width="100%" align=center> </span></font></div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size: 12.0pt'>Dags f�r jobbintervju? <a href="http://g.msn.com/8HMBSVSE/2755??PS=47575">H�r f�r du bra tips</a> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size: 12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> </blockquote> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size: 12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> </div> </body> </html>