CAUT

  • 1.  Pedals Raised 3/4" by Vertical on Twin Dollies (Schaff #4009)

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 06-06-2023 08:39

    Do you ever have a pianist complain about such a 3/4" raise in pedal height?TIA



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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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  • 2.  RE: Pedals Raised 3/4" by Vertical on Twin Dollies (Schaff #4009)

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 06-07-2023 07:52

    Any time the piano is raised, whether by a truck or larger casters, even by just 1/4", the pianist has to strain the leg and foot muscles that much more. The top of the pedal should be 60 mm or 2 3/8" from the floor. 70 mm is acceptable to most players, but more than that leads to injury. Many uprights come with even higher pedals to begin with.



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    Mario Igrec, RPT, MM
    Chief Piano Technician, The Juilliard School
    http://www.pianosinsideout.com
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Pedals Raised 3/4" by Vertical on Twin Dollies (Schaff #4009)

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 06-08-2023 07:32
    The easiest solution is to raise their foot as well- a small rug under the heel will do it. Depending on bench, may need to raise that as well. Extreme case I take care of is an SD-10 with stage casters in a home, so they put it on oversized wooden caster cups that bring it up at least a half inch. When I gave him some ideas, the owner came up with his own solution- a 1" thick slab of walnut from his neighbor's sawmill. Big enough so both feet are raised, and then cranked up the artist bench to match. It works, looks pretty cool actually.

    David Graham, riding in BikeMS 2023 Tour de Farms. Participant 227824 if you wish to support me!
    Graham Piano Service, Inc.
    512 S. Main St.
    Sycamore IL 60178
    815-353-5450




    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Pedals Raised 3/4" by Vertical on Twin Dollies (Schaff #4009)

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 06-08-2023 06:51

    Hi Bill,

    They could have stayed it a bit better in the specs. The dolly places the bottom of the piano at 3/4" from the floor. If the initial height is 3/4" then it doesn't change. If the casters had it higher than 3/4" then it lowers the piano by the net difference. If the casters had the piano lower than 3/4" than the stage Dollie's would raise it by the net amount. If it winds up a little low you can always shim. 

    I've taken some measurements, in the past, of at-rest pedal height from the floor, bottom-of-the-keybed height from the floor, and natural key (at rest) from the floor (on various major brands) with the result being much more wide-ranging than I expected. (Sorry for all the parentheses but I was trying to be accurate.)

    I hope this helps. Short answer: look at the net difference relative to the resulting 3/4". 

    Be well,

    AG



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    Allan Gilreath, RPT
    Registered Piano Technician & President
    Allan Gilreath & Associates, Inc
    Calhoun, GA
    706-602-7667
    allan@allangilreath.com - www.allangilreath.com
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    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Pedals Raised 3/4" by Vertical on Twin Dollies (Schaff #4009)

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 06-08-2023 08:55

    Alan, thanks so very much for this clarification. I've never measured…but having installed quite a few of both the heavy duty & the regular versions of these over the years, I've never observed an issue feeling myself nor have any of my customers/schools/churches ever had an issue. Thanks again. Kevin 



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    Kevin Fortenberry
    Registered Piano Technician
    Longview, TX 75602
    806-778-3962
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    Original Message