Pianotech

I watched jazz pianist Jason Moran on TV playing what looked like an S&S “D” last Saturday. There was no keyslip. I wondered why. It reminded me of a comment Norm Neblett once made while observing Rubinstein perform in LA. As AR sat down he pulled back with both hands on the ends of the keyslip. He had learned to not trust it. One way to straighten warped keyslips, which I don’t approve, is shimming between keyslip and action frame. This adds unnecessary friction to una corda pedal movement. What are your recommended solutions for keyslips interfering with key ends?

Bob Anderson, RPT
Tucson, AZ

If there are guidepins in the bottom surface of the keyslip, going into the front edge of the key bed, bend the middle one's bottom outwards, toward the player. It will still go vertically into its hole, but the keyslip's top edge will now lean away from the key fronts.

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William Ballard RPT
WBPS
Saxtons River VT
802-869-9107

"Our lives contain a thousand springs
and dies if one be gone
Strange that a harp of a thousand strings
should keep in tune so long."
...........Dr. Watts, "The Continental Harmony,1774
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Original Message:
Sent: 04-25-2023 10:40
From: Robert Anderson
Subject: keyslips

I watched jazz pianist Jason Moran on TV playing what looked like an S&S "D" last Saturday. There was no keyslip. I wondered why. It reminded me of a comment Norm Neblett once made while observing Rubinstein perform in LA. As AR sat down he pulled back with both hands on the ends of the keyslip. He had learned to not trust it. One way to straighten warped keyslips, which I don't approve, is shimming between keyslip and action frame. This adds unnecessary friction to una corda pedal movement. What are your recommended solutions for keyslips interfering with key ends?

Bob Anderson, RPT
Tucson, AZ

I use the large thumbtacks supplied by Dampp-Chaser with their bottom cover kits. The large, polished head keeps any added friction to a minimum.

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Mark Dierauf RPT
Concord NH
(603) 225-4652
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Original Message:
Sent: 04-25-2023 10:40
From: Robert Anderson
Subject: keyslips

I watched jazz pianist Jason Moran on TV playing what looked like an S&S "D" last Saturday. There was no keyslip. I wondered why. It reminded me of a comment Norm Neblett once made while observing Rubinstein perform in LA. As AR sat down he pulled back with both hands on the ends of the keyslip. He had learned to not trust it. One way to straighten warped keyslips, which I don't approve, is shimming between keyslip and action frame. This adds unnecessary friction to una corda pedal movement. What are your recommended solutions for keyslips interfering with key ends?

Bob Anderson, RPT
Tucson, AZ

Just learned this trick: You can slightly bend a keyslip screw and when tightening the screw the slight bend will push it away from the key frame.

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Tim Foster
New Oxford PA
(470) 231-6074
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Original Message:
Sent: 04-25-2023 10:40
From: Robert Anderson
Subject: keyslips

I watched jazz pianist Jason Moran on TV playing what looked like an S&S "D" last Saturday. There was no keyslip. I wondered why. It reminded me of a comment Norm Neblett once made while observing Rubinstein perform in LA. As AR sat down he pulled back with both hands on the ends of the keyslip. He had learned to not trust it. One way to straighten warped keyslips, which I don't approve, is shimming between keyslip and action frame. This adds unnecessary friction to una corda pedal movement. What are your recommended solutions for keyslips interfering with key ends?

Bob Anderson, RPT
Tucson, AZ