Pianotech

  • 1.  Petrof: heavy action?

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 11-04-2018 12:06
    Hi all,
    I received an email from a musician who is considering some various verticals. He has a 46" Petrof and likes the sound, but complains of a "heavy action," and was told by a local dealer that "they're all like that and nothing can be done." I'm not his technician--he was just looking for other opinions. I have not seen or evaluated the piano, and seldom come across them in this area.
    Is this commonly known? Any reasons or fixes for it?
    thanks,
    Scott

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    Scott Cole, RPT
    rvpianotuner.com
    Talent, OR
    (541-601-9033
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  • 2.  RE: Petrof: heavy action?

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 11-04-2018 13:30

    One can always change the heavy action.  When you see it, measure the downweight, upweight etc.  Could add lead to the keys, take off weight on the hammers, lessen damper spring tension or timing. Saying there is nothing to be done is ridiculous reteric from a salesman.  He/she knows nothing. Probably sold dishwashers before pianos. Could be something as easy as sluggish or tight key bushings or balance rail holes on the keys. There's lots going on,

     

    Paul

     

     

     






  • 3.  RE: Petrof: heavy action?

    Member
    Posted 11-04-2018 14:01
    Not enough information to go on such as age of the piano, serial number, exact model number ,bought new or used. The dealer prep may not have been good or there could have been poor work done by the factory etc . He should have a competent tech come and review exactly what the issues are.
    A good regulation, setting damper timing, let-off , blow plus cleaning, polishing, lubrication key pins, checking key bushings etc could do wonders. Of course it could have been an older piano that was sold through a wholesale channel...

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    James Kelly
    Pawleys Island SC
    843-325-4357
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  • 4.  RE: Petrof: heavy action?

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 11-04-2018 15:21
    Scott

    Is this friend reaching out to you for advice he can give his technician, or is he asking you to evaluate, and eventually fix his piano?

    As others have indicated, there are lots of things that could be done to change the touch weight, without going into action geometry. But don't do anything until you've discussed it with the musician.

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    Willem "Wim" Blees, RPT
    Mililani, HI 96789
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  • 5.  RE: Petrof: heavy action?

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 11-04-2018 19:18
    I've worked on a number of Petrofs over the years and haven't known a heavy touch to be anything intrinsic to the brand.  However, it is quite common for new pianos to have a problem with key bushings and balance rail holes seizing up after being boxed up and/or warehoused for some time, especially in wetter climes.  A simple test that you may recommend to a customer over the phone is to hold down the soft pedal and go up and down the keyboard pressing down four or five adjacent notes at a time to look for ones that don't spring up as readily.  Tight bushings can still make the touch heavy without causing it to miss altogether, so this test isn't foolproof, but if it does come up with some sluggish returns this is the most likely culprit.

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    Cecil Snyder
    Torrance CA
    310-542-7108
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  • 6.  RE: Petrof: heavy action?

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 11-04-2018 21:35
    Oops.   Meant to write, hold down on the sustain pedal for this test, which of course takes the damper springs out of the equation.   You can use the soft pedal to check the hammer flanges for freedom of movement, but I suspect that's not the problem here.

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    Cecil Snyder
    Torrance CA
    310-542-7108
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