Pianotech

I'm trying to adjust the sostenuto rail on a 45 S&S studio. I can't figure out which direction the rail has to go to make it work properly, specifically in the upper two octaves. 

When I was first called to look at the piano, a couple of dampers in the upper treble were hanging up on the tab. I solved that problem by slightly tapping down the rail. But the problem I'm trying to solve is when the sostenuto pedal is pressed, about half a dozen dampers are hanging up on the rail. It seemed that no matter how much I taped down the rail, the dampers were still hanging up. I took the action out and saw that the rail takes a detour around the treble strut. I'm not sure if that is what keeps the rail from working properly. 

I could use some guidance on this. It's the first time I've encountered a 45 with a sostenuto. 

Wim

Wim,

I recently had a similar problem on a 45. It became clear that it was going to eat up a lot of time.  Ultimately I simply deactivated it (nobody uses it anyway) and told the client that unless it was truly necessary it was not going to be worth the cost to correct it. (She didn't even know what it does).

Peter Grey Piano Doctor 

I'm trying to adjust the sostenuto rail on a 45 S&S studio. I can't figure out which direction the rail has to go to make it work properly, specifically in the upper two octaves. 

When I was first called to look at the piano, a couple of dampers in the upper treble were hanging up on the tab. I solved that problem by slightly tapping down the rail. But the problem I'm trying to solve is when the sostenuto pedal is pressed, about half a dozen dampers are hanging up on the rail. It seemed that no matter how much I taped down the rail, the dampers were still hanging up. I took the action out and saw that the rail takes a detour around the treble strut. I'm not sure if that is what keeps the rail from working properly. 

I could use some guidance on this. It's the first time I've encountered a 45 with a sostenuto. 

Wim

I'm trying to adjust the sostenuto rail on a 45 S&S studio. I can't figure out which direction the rail has to go to make it work properly, specifically in the upper two octaves. 

When I was first called to look at the piano, a couple of dampers in the upper treble were hanging up on the tab. I solved that problem by slightly tapping down the rail. But the problem I'm trying to solve is when the sostenuto pedal is pressed, about half a dozen dampers are hanging up on the rail. It seemed that no matter how much I taped down the rail, the dampers were still hanging up. I took the action out and saw that the rail takes a detour around the treble strut. I'm not sure if that is what keeps the rail from working properly. 

I could use some guidance on this. It's the first time I've encountered a 45 with a sostenuto. 

Wim

Hi Wim,

This is outlined in the Steinway & Sons World Wide Technical Reference Guide, but my advice on the topic is below.

Proper regulation of the sostenuto requires properly regulated dampers and sostenuto tabs in a relatively straight line.

The correct resting rotational position of the sostenuto blade should be set up so the tip of the blade is at the same height as the round body of the sostenuto blade/cross-rod assembly.

(In other words, you should be able to lay a ruler front to back across the blade and body, and it should be parallel with the floor.)

The correct position of the blade from the tabs is 1/16" below, and 1/16" away from the line of sostenuto tabs on the dampers.

The blade should rotate enough to engage the tab that is lifted and prevent other dampers from slipping through.  Check for over rotation that the dampers are not burying deep in the damper stop rail.

Last, engage the sustain and then engage the sostenuto and slowly release the sostenuto and make sure the dampers fall in all sections at random and watch out for dampers that cascade section by section.

A very useful tool for all sostenuto regulation is the "Streamlight Stylus Reach" https://www.streamlight.com/products/detail/stylus-reach

This flashlight allows you to get light behind the tabs and blade and be able to see very clearly the distance between the two.

Feel free to reach out directly if you have any questions.

I'm trying to adjust the sostenuto rail on a 45 S&S studio. I can't figure out which direction the rail has to go to make it work properly, specifically in the upper two octaves. 

When I was first called to look at the piano, a couple of dampers in the upper treble were hanging up on the tab. I solved that problem by slightly tapping down the rail. But the problem I'm trying to solve is when the sostenuto pedal is pressed, about half a dozen dampers are hanging up on the rail. It seemed that no matter how much I taped down the rail, the dampers were still hanging up. I took the action out and saw that the rail takes a detour around the treble strut. I'm not sure if that is what keeps the rail from working properly. 

I could use some guidance on this. It's the first time I've encountered a 45 with a sostenuto. 

Wim

Hi Wim,

This is outlined in the Steinway & Sons World Wide Technical Reference Guide, but my advice on the topic is below.

Proper regulation of the sostenuto requires properly regulated dampers and sostenuto tabs in a relatively straight line.

The correct resting rotational position of the sostenuto blade should be set up so the tip of the blade is at the same height as the round body of the sostenuto blade/cross-rod assembly.

(In other words, you should be able to lay a ruler front to back across the blade and body, and it should be parallel with the floor.)

The correct position of the blade from the tabs is 1/16" below, and 1/16" away from the line of sostenuto tabs on the dampers.

The blade should rotate enough to engage the tab that is lifted and prevent other dampers from slipping through.  Check for over rotation that the dampers are not burying deep in the damper stop rail.

Last, engage the sustain and then engage the sostenuto and slowly release the sostenuto and make sure the dampers fall in all sections at random and watch out for dampers that cascade section by section.

A very useful tool for all sostenuto regulation is the "Streamlight Stylus Reach" https://www.streamlight.com/products/detail/stylus-reach

This flashlight allows you to get light behind the tabs and blade and be able to see very clearly the distance between the two.

Feel free to reach out directly if you have any questions.

I'm trying to adjust the sostenuto rail on a 45 S&S studio. I can't figure out which direction the rail has to go to make it work properly, specifically in the upper two octaves. 

When I was first called to look at the piano, a couple of dampers in the upper treble were hanging up on the tab. I solved that problem by slightly tapping down the rail. But the problem I'm trying to solve is when the sostenuto pedal is pressed, about half a dozen dampers are hanging up on the rail. It seemed that no matter how much I taped down the rail, the dampers were still hanging up. I took the action out and saw that the rail takes a detour around the treble strut. I'm not sure if that is what keeps the rail from working properly. 

I could use some guidance on this. It's the first time I've encountered a 45 with a sostenuto. 

Wim