<HTML><BODY style="word-wrap: break-word; -khtml-nbsp-mode: space; -khtml-line-break: after-white-space; "><BR><DIV><DIV>On Jun 27, 2007, at 10:32 AM, <A href="mailto:A440A@aol.com">A440A@aol.com</A> wrote:</DIV><BLOCKQUOTE type="cite"><P style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px"><FONT face="Helvetica" size="5" style="font: 16.0px Helvetica"><SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN>Triage.<SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN>First and biggest thing, (assuming all the flange screws are<SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN></FONT></P> <P style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px"><FONT face="Helvetica" size="5" style="font: 16.0px Helvetica">tight), is lost motion.<SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN>After deciding on a blow distance, bring lost motion<SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN></FONT></P> <P style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px"><FONT face="Helvetica" size="5" style="font: 16.0px Helvetica">down to the minimum.<SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN>You may be surprised to find there is aftertouch in<SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN></FONT></P> <P style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px"><FONT face="Helvetica" size="5" style="font: 16.0px Helvetica">there, after all, and the back checking is much improved without any time spent on<SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN></FONT></P> <P style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px"><FONT face="Helvetica" size="5" style="font: 16.0px Helvetica">it. <SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN></FONT></P> <P style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px"><FONT face="Helvetica" size="5" style="font: 16.0px Helvetica"><SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN>After than, you can decide whether there is time(budget) enough to<SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN></FONT></P> <P style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px"><FONT face="Helvetica" size="5" style="font: 16.0px Helvetica">either set let-off or dip.<SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN>Ideally you could do both.<SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN></FONT></P> <P style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px"><FONT face="Helvetica" size="5" style="font: 16.0px Helvetica"><SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN>If you haven't broken their bank, by now, cast your eyes upon the<SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN></FONT></P> <P style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px"><FONT face="Helvetica" size="5" style="font: 16.0px Helvetica">hammers.<SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN>You can remove most of the dead felt on either side of the strikepoint<SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN></FONT></P> <P style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px"><FONT face="Helvetica" size="5" style="font: 16.0px Helvetica">without altering the actual hammer length, and a quick pass of a hot iron on a<SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN></FONT></P> <P style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px"><FONT face="Helvetica" size="5" style="font: 16.0px Helvetica">thin strip of damp flannel will take a lot of the snarl out of those hammers. <SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN></FONT></P> <P style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Helvetica; min-height: 19.0px"><BR></P> <P style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px"><FONT face="Helvetica" size="5" style="font: 16.0px Helvetica">Ed Foote RPT</FONT></P> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR></DIV><DIV>Fantastic advice, Ed. Listen up, Michelle.</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>The only thing I would add is that there is one protocol that seems to, in a triage situation, produce more good benefits than any other single thing I can do to an upright piano---raising the key height. In an old piano there is no doubt that the felt balance rail punchings have compressed, and in extreme environments, the balance rail shims and the balance rail itself have lost mass and size. Raising the key height, and quick-leveling the keys---dead easy on an upright---cause almost miraculous positive changes in the piano action.</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>You'll have to ask the spatial intelligence wizards, such as Mr. Foote, or Mr. Erwin, or our English brother Mr. Delacour, to walk you through what exactly happens when the key height is brought back somewhere close to its original height. Its effect, which I've witnessed thousands of times, speaks for itself. </DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV><B>Battlefield Triage Upright Piano Magic</B></DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>****I do two test keys, usually middle C and the C# next to it. I try one blue punching under the felt balance rail punching and that works 90% of the time, especially in your triage situation, and I go through all the steps below.***</DIV><DIV>If you have more time and money to operate with, naturally the protocols become more complex and thorough, and beyond the scope of triage.</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>1. Remove the keys</DIV><DIV>2. "Vacuum w/ paintbrush" cleaning (don't suck up the punchings, newbies. DAMHIK.)</DIV><DIV>3. Put a blue punching under each felt balance rail punching.</DIV><DIV>4. Replace the keys.</DIV><DIV>5. Check let-off---it got closer; make sure no hammers block.</DIV><DIV>6. Check lost motion---if you have a little more time, you can shim the rest rail up and have a "correct" blow distance; then you'll for sure have to regulate 88 notes for blow, but the action will work better.</DIV><DIV>7. Regulate backchecks---it'll check back a lot closer with the raised key height...just even 'em out. Again test a couple notes in the middle of the piano to feel what backcheck distance feels best when the note is played; there's definitely a checking "sweet spot" on pianos.</DIV><DIV>This will take between 1 and 2 hours, and will make a radical positive change in the touch of the piano.</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>Best,</DIV><DIV>David Andersen </DIV><DIV> </DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><BR></BODY></HTML>