<HTML><BODY BGCOLOR="#ffffff">In a message dated 10/24/02 6:36:41 PM Central Daylight Time, avery@ev1.net writes: <BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">List, I ran into a new problem today I've never had before on a Steinway 'B'. The piano is one Abbey Simon uses in his studio and he's been complaining that there wasn't enough difference when he uses the "soft" pedal and there's too much noise when shifting. While working on it today, I discovered that the noise is because the keyframe is hitting the cheek block instead of the stop screw (wood hitting wood). With the block out, the action travelled a good bit further so I adjusted the screw to stop the noise. But now, as it was before, the action isn't travelling far enough to clear the left string, which was the basic problem to begin with (except for the noise). I don't see anything I can do to make the action shift further except reduce the thickness of the cheek block. The hammers are very well aligned to the strings, so that's not the problem. Any ideas I've overlooked? The piano is only about 1 yr. old. The 5 yr. old one shifts much further and is fine. Thanks for any ideas. Avery </BLOCKQUOTE> Avery, is the hammer starting point (before shift) enough to shift the hammers slightly to the right?  I'm afraid reducing the cheek block thickness can present its own complications.  The only other recomendation I can think of is to reduce the thickness of the key frame stop block, which means you will have to shift the hammers and maybe the wippens. That will give you more travel.  By the way most of the techs I know adjust the shift so the left edge of the hammer just touches the left string not completely missing it.  The idea being subtle changes in flavor rather than gross changes. David Koelzer Vintage Pianos DFW </HTML>