Pianotech

  • 1.  Grotrian grand regulation specifications

    Member
    Posted 7 days ago

    I am regulating a Grotrian grand and when I went to set the hammer height on the bench, the string height measurements that I had taken in the piano only gave me a possible blow distance of 1 1/2 inches, or 36 mm. Does anyone have the official blow distance from Grotrian for me to compare?

    Thank you.



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    Rex Roseman
    Norton OH
    (330) 289-2948
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  • 2.  RE: Grotrian grand regulation specifications

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 6 days ago

    Best to let the piano action itself tell you where it would like to be.  First check the level and key dip on a sample note. If that hasn't been messed with and you've got about 10mm dip you can then lower the capstan so the hammer shank is resting on the rest felt or hammer rest rail.  (Check the hammer rest rail is as low as it will go without impinging on the wippen flanges.) This will probably give you no after-touch.  Raise the hammer a bit at a time with the capstan till you have adequate aftertouch.  This will get you in the ballpark.  Then go back and start over using all the usual steps to fine regulate.



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    Cecil Snyder RPT
    Torrance CA
    (310) 542-7108
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Grotrian grand regulation specifications

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 6 days ago

    I'm currently replacing the HSF on a Yamaha C5. Apparently I misread my measurement for the keybed to bass string height by 1 centimeter. Good thing I know what it's supposed to look like or I would have wasted a lot of time. Measure twice, regulate once. ; )



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    Steven Rosenthal RPT
    Honolulu HI
    (808) 521-7129
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Grotrian grand regulation specifications

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 6 days ago

    That's why I prefer using the "pop-up" measuring tool that Schaff sells for that.  If you can measure something directly by a
    "story stick" or some equivalent without converting it to numbers it's always preferable.  Of course nothing's fool-proof but I take some comfort in remembering when Lockheed-Martin crashed a  2 hundred million dollar Mars Polar Lander because they forgot of convert miles to kilometers. Oops.



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    Cecil Snyder RPT
    Torrance CA
    (310) 542-7108
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    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Grotrian grand regulation specifications

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 5 days ago

    Hi Rex,

    I don't have the official measurements you're looking for, but thinking about your situation, here's what I would do. As others have pointed out, I would start by double checking your measurements just to be on the safe side.

    If those are correct, I would check the action spread to make sure it's within normal tolerance. It's possible something moved one of the rails a little over the years. 112-113mm is standard.

    If that's correct, I would try regulating a sample note and see how much aftertouch I could get with the maximum blow distance you have available. 1.5" / 36mm is not ideal for power, but if everything else lines up and you can get sufficient aftertouch, that may be the best that piano is capable of.

    If that's the case, you may be looking at a more shallow dip than usual (10mm), which may indicate a higher action ratio. If you have to, I would aim for a key dip no less than 8mm, preferably at least 9mm. The piano will tell you what it will tolerate, though.

    Some pianos just have odd designs. If you do your best, I'm sure the client will be pleased with the results. After all, it will be an improvement over what was there before. 



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    Benjamin Sanchez, RPT
    Piano Technician / Artisan
    (256) 947-9999
    www.professional-piano-services.com
    www.FromZeroToSixFiguresBook.com
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    Original Message