Pianotech

Ben, does the Fries gauge come with instructions as to all 9 portions of the gauge?

LaRoy Edwards' let off tool is pretty slick. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EYb904oDpk

Bolduc is selling a wood version of it. Doesn't look hard to make.

https://shop.pianosbolduc.com/products/let-off-regulation-tool 

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Steven Rosenthal RPT
Honolulu HI
(808) 521-7129

Original Message:
Sent: 11-22-2025 21:50
From: Cobrun Sells
Subject: Another way to set let-off

Ben, does the Fries gauge come with instructions as to all 9 portions of the gauge?

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Cobrun Sells
cobrun94@yahoo.com

Original Message:
Sent: 01-25-2018 12:01
From: Benjamin Sanchez
Subject: Another way to set let-off

Chris, 

Your creativity is awesome! Keep up the good work!


As far as setting let off in the piano, I prefer to use the Emil Fries 9 in 1 gauge, available from Schaff. The paper that came with it said it was made for a blind tech, so I figured it was best to learn to use it by feel. So I learned how to use it by feel, and have been very pleased with the results.

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Benjamin Sanchez
Professional Piano Services
(805)315-8050
www.professional-piano-services.com
BenPianoPro@comcast.net

Original Message:
Sent: 01-24-2018 18:18
From: Chris Chernobieff
Subject: Another way to set let-off

I agree it's back breaking. That's why I made this tool. Spring loaded let off tool. It holds itself in place. After let off is set then I use my gravity drop tool on the bench.
When it comes to let off, I prefer getting it done in the piano versus any clever bench jig. 

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A hunter's drumbeat steers the stampeding herd,
His belly growls in hunger to what he sees.
The mammoth aware blows his mighty trumpet,
But alas, the caveman tickles the ivories.

chernobieffpiano.com
865-986-7720

Original Message:
Sent: 01-24-2018 01:28
From: David Love
Subject: Another way to set let-off

If you're like me, setting let-off on Baldwin style barrel let off buttons can be a real pain in the back especially when it requires a significant adjustment in the field.   Having to crane your neck to both see the let-off point and find the hole in the barrel in order to turn it can be a real hassle.

Here's one method to get the let-off roughed in very quickly and very accurately, and allowing you to set the action on top of the piano where adjustment can be made to the let off buttons easily and comfortably.  In this attached video I've used the key slip inserted under the hammers supporting the shanks.

First adjust the let-off on the end hammers of each section in the piano to function as your guides.  Then set the action on a blanket on top of the closed lid.  Insert the key slip under the hammers so that the key slip is supporting the shanks (not the hammer tails).  On this type of action the continuous hammer rest rail offers an easy way to support the keyslip.  Adjust the height of the keyslip by inserting a felt or rubber mutes between the keyslip and the hammer rest rail's threaded posts that stick up above the rest rail itself.  Adjust the height of the rail so that when you depress the key on the guide notes of each section, the shank rises just slightly and then falls back onto the keyslip.  You'll be able to see the shank barely rise and also hear the sound of the shank falling back on the keyslip.  You may have to make adjustments in the height of the keyslip from section to section but in this case I didn't.   Once you establish the keyslip level on your guide notes, you can adjust the rest of the keys to duplicate the rise and fall by both sight and sound.

See attached videos for a demonstration.  There are two videos, one is of an adjustment being made to duplicate the guide note, the other is after everything has been completed.

When you are done you can insert the action back in the piano and tweak as necessary.  The final adjustments needed should be relatively minor.

Of course be careful that the keyslip is not contacting anything that might scratch it.

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David Love RPT
www.davidlovepianos.com
davidlovepianos@comcast.net
415 407 8320
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LaRoy Edwards' let off tool is pretty slick. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EYb904oDpk

Bolduc is selling a wood version of it. Doesn't look hard to make.

https://shop.pianosbolduc.com/products/let-off-regulation-tool 

Ben, does the Fries gauge come with instructions as to all 9 portions of the gauge?

This video file upload might work...

LaRoy Edwards' let off tool is pretty slick. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EYb904oDpk

Bolduc is selling a wood version of it. Doesn't look hard to make.

https://shop.pianosbolduc.com/products/let-off-regulation-tool 

Ben, does the Fries gauge come with instructions as to all 9 portions of the gauge?

Ben, does the Fries gauge come with instructions as to all 9 portions of the gauge?

A lot has changed for me in the past seven years since this thread was started. I no longer use the Emil Fries gauge for let-off. It does come with instructions, but the part that's used for let-off is 1/8". When using a gauge, I prefer the Yamaha 3-in-1 gauge that Schaff sells. The point of the let-off part on that gauge is 1/16", which means I can use it on grands, and the body of the let-off part is 1/8", which means I can use it on uprights. That's now my preferred tool. 

However, I don't always use the gauge. The late David Andersen taught me a method of setting let-off using touch. First, set blow distance so that the notes will be consistent when you play them. Set let-off on one note using the gauge. Then, gently and slowly press the key down to the point that you can feel the jack start to touch the let-off button. Feel exactly how much pressure you need to get that hammer to go through let-off when playing as quietly as you can. Go to the next note and try to replicate the same amount of pressure. If let-off doesn't occur, adjust the let-off button until it happens with the same amount of pressure as on the previous note. 

On the surface, this method seems very subjective. With practice, it's not. It's by far the easiest and most consistent method of setting let-off that I've ever tried. I've set let-off quickly and easily at 1/8" in uprights, 1/16" in grands, and 1/32" in concert situations using this method. It's incredibly accurate and consistent, and it solves the string height problem Cobrun mentions. In pianos where I've done this, aftertouch has been very consistent too, much more consistent (I feel) than on pianos where I've used a different method that sets let-off based on an entire section. 

Ben, does the Fries gauge come with instructions as to all 9 portions of the gauge?

A lot has changed for me in the past seven years since this thread was started. I no longer use the Emil Fries gauge for let-off. It does come with instructions, but the part that's used for let-off is 1/8". When using a gauge, I prefer the Yamaha 3-in-1 gauge that Schaff sells. The point of the let-off part on that gauge is 1/16", which means I can use it on grands, and the body of the let-off part is 1/8", which means I can use it on uprights. That's now my preferred tool. 

However, I don't always use the gauge. The late David Andersen taught me a method of setting let-off using touch. First, set blow distance so that the notes will be consistent when you play them. Set let-off on one note using the gauge. Then, gently and slowly press the key down to the point that you can feel the jack start to touch the let-off button. Feel exactly how much pressure you need to get that hammer to go through let-off when playing as quietly as you can. Go to the next note and try to replicate the same amount of pressure. If let-off doesn't occur, adjust the let-off button until it happens with the same amount of pressure as on the previous note. 

On the surface, this method seems very subjective. With practice, it's not. It's by far the easiest and most consistent method of setting let-off that I've ever tried. I've set let-off quickly and easily at 1/8" in uprights, 1/16" in grands, and 1/32" in concert situations using this method. It's incredibly accurate and consistent, and it solves the string height problem Cobrun mentions. In pianos where I've done this, aftertouch has been very consistent too, much more consistent (I feel) than on pianos where I've used a different method that sets let-off based on an entire section. 

Ben, does the Fries gauge come with instructions as to all 9 portions of the gauge?