Discussion Posts

  • Posted in: Pianotech

    Robin, is it a Renner action? Maybe they can help. ------------------------------ Steven Rosenthal RPT Honolulu HI (808) 521-7129 ------------------------------

  • Posted in: Pianotech

    WNG parts use pseudosuede (aka ecsaine) in place of buckskin. Pseudosuede is manufactured to very exact standards, very even thickness and very even friction. It is also virtually indestructable in piano actions. An engineer reported no discernable ...

  • Posted in: Pianotech

    Some pianos are set up with glide bolts set so the balance rail is held off the keybed. Young Chang comes to mind. Yamaha also. Yamaha has two glide bolts that are not meant to be adjusted in the field. They set the basic height and then the other ...

  • Posted in: Pianotech

    That’s how I did my M&H upright. I followed Bill’s instructions. Worked very well.

  • Posted in: Pianotech

    What model of iPad are you using, and what version of iOS? The only time I had trouble with mine was when it got to be 6-7 years old. The software and hardware had become too old to support various apps and tasks, leading to behavior like you describe. ...

  • Posted in: Pianotech

    It means that the glide bolts were set high/deep to raise the balance rail, instead of just to establish contact with the key bed. This is a relatively new piano (I think <7 years) and hasn't seen any work since the dealer. Re-setting the glide bolts ...

  • Posted in: Pianotech

    Daniel, thank you so very much for your thorough, thoughtful, and informative reply! It's also nice to be part of a community that can discuss differences in approach without invalidating others' approaches. I've read your reply a number of times now, ...

  • Posted in: Pianotech

    This annoyance is with the iOS software and how it manages WiFi. You are likely in range of another wifi connection that DOES have internet, and so the iPad will default to that sometimes. To stop that from happening, you have to click the "i" for info ...

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    KMD with iPad

    Posted in: Pianotech

    I'm having trouble connecting my KMD to my iPad. I can connect it to my iMac mini without a problem. On the iPad, I can see the KMD device, but it seldom connects and if it does, it drops it almost immediately. Has anyone discovered any special settings ...

  • Posted in: Pianotech

    I imagine you would want to duplicate as close as possible the flange center pin position (butt center pin in a brass rail configuration,) and butt height and profile. It may prove a challenge to find appropriate replacement parts. I recommend trying ...

  • Posted in: Pianotech

    Tim, Conversion to standard wood flanges may prove to be a viable alternative to rail duplication or annealing. At least you now have various options to present to your client, based on what you find upon dis-assembly. I personally like the conversion ...

  • Posted in: Pianotech

    There is a publication from Bill Spurlock about installing new hammers on upright pianos. Within that publication, there are some instructions on how to convert a brass rail to a standard flange rail. I have never done that conversion, though it doesn’t ...

  • Posted in: Pianotech

    As Parker suggested, one good option would be to convert to wooden rail for wooden flanges. I did that on a M&H upright. Wasn’t too big a job and came out very nice. Terry Farrell

  • Posted in: Pianotech

    Thanks again David! The latter part is what I aim for myself when making the adjustments, but I hadn't thought of finding the "too-low position" in the practical way you suggest. Neither have I observed the screw itself. I will try this out, too. Much ...

  • Posted in: Pianotech

    Currently, a new Fazioli 212 is $195K. Depending on the age and condition of your piano, the price can vary greatly as in any used instrument. I would be careful selling a piano privately to anyone because there are a lot of scams out there. If your ...

  • Posted in: Pianotech

    I'll expand on my earlier post on annealing brass rails. I consider actions with brass rails to be exceptionally good quality, and the brass rail design superior in most ways; it is not susceptible to humidity swings, and it is more rigid in supporting ...

  • Posted in: Pianotech

    I have had annealing done on discontinued brass parts. It's a little expensive, but probably not any more expensive than replacement if it can be found. If you are going to have these annealed, bring along some other brass items that might be ...

  • Posted in: Pianotech

    Rails as well as tabs can break. Schaff does not have parts that will fit. Find a good machinist or get away from brass. Old brass gets brittle with age as well as use. ------------------------------ Parker Leigh RPT Winchester VA (540) 722-3865 - ...

  • Posted in: Pianotech

    Thanks for the "heads up"! It's a shame we live in a world where there's so many dishonest people. Ee shouldn't have to spend so much time protecting ourselves from this stuff. ------------------------------ Eugene Taets RPT Silvis IL (309) 796-2888 ...

  • Posted in: Pianotech

    One observation I made recently was with working with a collection of high-end and well regulated grands at a dealer. When I checked the jacks I found many jacks on several different pianos that were not clearing under the knuckles. Checking jack clearance ...

  • Posted in: Pianotech

    Here's what i do when i have these types of uprights come in. Because of my decades of experience piano rebuilding, i have saved up odd parts such as these rails. Tabs breaking off of the rail is rare actually. What breaks more often are the little individual ...

  • Posted in: Pianotech

    I received a new, to me, email that looks to be another scam. I've done work for relocation companies before and their initial contacts were usually by phone or a more formal email than this one which has 2 typos. "Virginia's email address is virginia.mcdonald@gblmanagement.com ...

  • Posted in: Pianotech

    Patrick Wingren, To set repetition lever height dynamically, place the action before you on the workbench reversed (you will be looking at the backchecks). Hold the keystick down to the backrail cloth by reaching over the action stack and pressing ...

  • Posted in: Pianotech

    You may want to consult with Brooks about converting from brass to wood rails, which would allow for the use of standard wooden parts. ------------------------------ Parker Leigh RPT Winchester VA (540) 722-3865 ------------------------------

  • Posted in: Pianotech

    I have never done it but the brass could be annealed, which would make it less prone to breaking. ------------------------------ Paul McCloud, RPT Accutone Piano Service www.AccutonePianoService.com pavadasa@gmail.com ------------------------------

  • Posted in: Pianotech

    Do not use Schaff for brass rail duplication. Check with Blackstone or a machinist. Better yet, install a complete WNG action. ------------------------------ Parker Leigh RPT Winchester VA (540) 722-3865 ------------------------------

  • Posted in: Pianotech

    “Over-bedded”? What does that mean? Stewart Sent from my iPad

  • Posted in: Pianotech

    I would be very leery about rebuilding this piano, That's a brass rail action. After many years, brass gets weak and those tabs break. Schaff used to offer replacement service but I don't know if they still do. Wim Blees

  • Posted in: Pianotech

    Thanks David, I'll definitely try your method! @All: what about rep lever height? There is the "finger tip test" in the rep lever window and there's rocking the jack and adjust the rep lever height until you feel just a bit of tiny resistance from the ...

  • Posted in: Pianotech

    … for lack of a better name? I need to get an estimate out for rebuilding a family heirloom Everett upright. New action parts if possible. Upon inspection, I noticed this brass part looks like it could pose some problems. Any words of wisdom in taking ...

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    Fazioli 212

    Posted in: Pianotech

    A friend of a friend is trying to sell his mother's Fazioli 212 to pay for his elderly mother's living expenses. I don't know much about the market for these, so any info I can pass on would be appreciated. The piano is near Columbus Ohio. Thanks! ...

  • Posted in: Pianotech

    Hi Robin, I apologize I haven't kept up with the activity on this thread, (and I'm still not caught up) but I wanted to reply to your question. My recommendation to read Jason Cassel's 11/25 article was made specifically because of how it answered ...

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    RE: laser level

    Posted in: Pianotech

    Ah...thank you, Gerald! Any chance you still have one of the laser blocks on a shelf? Mine is still usable, but one of the two levels has gone dry. Clever tool. Best, Richard

  • Posted in: Pianotech

    Peter writes: 'Additionally, it seems that all the "standard" regulation specs we are used to have a built in "safety factor" to accommodate various playing styles, various climates and seasonal change, etc. Considering the fact that the vast majority ...

  • Posted in: Pianotech

    Got it. Thank you, Rick. -- Dave Conte, RPT, CCT Owner, Rocky Top Piano Knoxville, TN 817-307-5656 dave@daveconte.com www.RockyTopPiano.com

  • Posted in: Pianotech

    Hi Dave, Go to the PDF copy of the Journal online and point and click on the link. The discussion post will come up, and you'll have to scroll to find his comments. The references are listed at the end of the article. ------------------------------ ...

  • Posted in: Pianotech

    For Rick Butler. You sited threads from Frank Emerson (George F.) in the Pianotech forums in your article. No results came up doing a search for his name in any iteration. Admittedly, I am not very digital savvy. Can you site or provide a link to ...

  • Posted in: Pianotech

    Does anyone know if there's an Estonia service manual? Working a modern L210, I think it's around 8 years old, and was massively over-bedded. Want to make sure that was actually an error and not a design feature, as I'm experiencing some irregularities ...

  • Posted in: Pianotech

    Thank you SO MUCH everyone for your replies - I meant to get back to everyone but life got in the way. Very interesting hear the different suggestions - it definitely gives me hope and faith that there's multiple ways of doing this. ------------------------------ ...

  • Posted in: Pianotech

    I have used them on the last two rebuilds. I think they're great (so far), and noise has not been an issue (again so far) a year or more in. Additionally, it seems that all the "standard" regulation specs we are used to have a built in "safety factor" ...

  • Posted in: Pianotech

    The one problem I have encountered with the WNG hammer shanks is noise. The conposite material doesn't seem to dampen noise in the action parts like wood does. Has anyone used the newer WNG knuckles with the solid core, and if so, are they quieter ...

  • Posted in: Pianotech

    WNG parts use pseudosuede (aka ecsaine) in place of buckskin. Pseudosuede is manufactured to very exact standards, very even thickness and very even friction. It is also virtually indestructable in piano actions. An engineer reported no discernable ...

  • Posted in: Pianotech

    Zackery mentioned the "magic line" in his comment when talking about the half-stroke of the key. There is another "magic line" in an action that probably relates to this conversation. Zackery mentioned it too when he referred to the action spread. This ...

  • Posted in: Pianotech

    It's an interesting rabbit hole to dive down. When it comes to this aspect I think the more and more I get into the geometry side of this the more I realize that everything matters. Friction affects the repetition flange which results in different spring ...

  • Posted in: Pianotech

    Equal and Unequal Beating Temperament System - Final Version Post Equal and Unequal Beating Temperament System - Final Version Files Equal Beating Temperament System.pdf Circular Harmonic System.pdf Circular ...

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  • Posted in: Pianotech

    Ryan - very dark - I can assure you - Bb minor - the key that pressages suicide - and you can hear it! And the universe of the expanding thirds . . . . Schubert at his darkest - his last sonata https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HvUdwWG6NI and on ...

  • Posted in: Pianotech

    Ha! This is so simple a 9 year old child could figure it out. Gads! Find me a 9 year old child, can't make heads or tails of this!! - Groucho Marx ------------------------------ "That Tuning Guy" Scott Kerns Lincoln, Nebraska www.thattuningguy.com ...

  • Posted in: Pianotech

    Interesting insights. However any tuning system that fails to take into account dark matter and the expanding universe can't be taken seriously. ------------------------------ Ryan Sowers RPT Olympia WA (360) 480-5648 ----------------------------- ...

  • Posted in: Pianotech

    Robin and All, IMHO, "double escapement" has been a misnomer since the day Errard coined it. David G. Hughes, RPT Baltimore Chapter ------------------------------ David Hughes RPT Vintage Case Parts Glyndon MD (443) 522-2201 ----------- ...

  • Posted in: Pianotech

    I do want it simultaneous! But above I'm describing achieving or not achieving simultaneous "double escapement", shortened to simultaneous escapement. ------------------------------ Robin Whitehouse Greenbelt, MD D.C. Chapter 201 ----------------- ...