Pianotech

Seeing as I'm seeing this customer tomorrow I suddenly realize I probably should have posted this weeks ago. That said, I'll take whatever advice I can get in this short time. 

1998 Young Chang TG-50.

Recently had to replace the expanding action brackets. 

It's in a small church and the pastor, who is also the main player, loves to pound. Not for loudness but because he has always played that way. Jerry Lee Lewis style. He has already broken several bass strings at the agraffe. His piano playing style is not going to change, and he's not going to invest in a larger piano that will take this much hard playing so he has agreed to re-regulate to reduce the amount of power the hammers are inflicting on the strings. 

Todays question: Is it better/easier to decrease blow distance or increase letoff? Or maybe a bit of each. And, is there a quick and easy way to do either?

Looking forward to your replies. 

-- Thanks

Seeing as I'm seeing this customer tomorrow I suddenly realize I probably should have posted this weeks ago. That said, I'll take whatever advice I can get in this short time. 

1998 Young Chang TG-50.

Recently had to replace the expanding action brackets. 

It's in a small church and the pastor, who is also the main player, loves to pound. Not for loudness but because he has always played that way. Jerry Lee Lewis style. He has already broken several bass strings at the agraffe. His piano playing style is not going to change, and he's not going to invest in a larger piano that will take this much hard playing so he has agreed to re-regulate to reduce the amount of power the hammers are inflicting on the strings. 

Todays question: Is it better/easier to decrease blow distance or increase letoff? Or maybe a bit of each. And, is there a quick and easy way to do either?

Looking forward to your replies. 

-- Thanks

Thanks, Wim.

Yeah, I am prepared for having the do each key separately. And customer already understands why the change is called for and the time and cost. But sometimes there is a shortcut that is not well known, so I thought I'd ask. Hadn't thought of reducing key dip, so thanks for that tip. 

-- Thanks

Seeing as I'm seeing this customer tomorrow I suddenly realize I probably should have posted this weeks ago. That said, I'll take whatever advice I can get in this short time. 

1998 Young Chang TG-50.

Recently had to replace the expanding action brackets. 

It's in a small church and the pastor, who is also the main player, loves to pound. Not for loudness but because he has always played that way. Jerry Lee Lewis style. He has already broken several bass strings at the agraffe. His piano playing style is not going to change, and he's not going to invest in a larger piano that will take this much hard playing so he has agreed to re-regulate to reduce the amount of power the hammers are inflicting on the strings. 

Todays question: Is it better/easier to decrease blow distance or increase letoff? Or maybe a bit of each. And, is there a quick and easy way to do either?

Looking forward to your replies. 

-- Thanks

If blow distance is decreased or let off is increased, key dip will have to be reduced to maintain correct aftertouch. 

Thanks, Wim.

Yeah, I am prepared for having the do each key separately. And customer already understands why the change is called for and the time and cost. But sometimes there is a shortcut that is not well known, so I thought I'd ask. Hadn't thought of reducing key dip, so thanks for that tip. 

-- Thanks

Seeing as I'm seeing this customer tomorrow I suddenly realize I probably should have posted this weeks ago. That said, I'll take whatever advice I can get in this short time. 

1998 Young Chang TG-50.

Recently had to replace the expanding action brackets. 

It's in a small church and the pastor, who is also the main player, loves to pound. Not for loudness but because he has always played that way. Jerry Lee Lewis style. He has already broken several bass strings at the agraffe. His piano playing style is not going to change, and he's not going to invest in a larger piano that will take this much hard playing so he has agreed to re-regulate to reduce the amount of power the hammers are inflicting on the strings. 

Todays question: Is it better/easier to decrease blow distance or increase letoff? Or maybe a bit of each. And, is there a quick and easy way to do either?

Looking forward to your replies. 

-- Thanks

Thanks, Wim.

Yeah, I am prepared for having the do each key separately. And customer already understands why the change is called for and the time and cost. But sometimes there is a shortcut that is not well known, so I thought I'd ask. Hadn't thought of reducing key dip, so thanks for that tip. 

-- Thanks

Seeing as I'm seeing this customer tomorrow I suddenly realize I probably should have posted this weeks ago. That said, I'll take whatever advice I can get in this short time. 

1998 Young Chang TG-50.

Recently had to replace the expanding action brackets. 

It's in a small church and the pastor, who is also the main player, loves to pound. Not for loudness but because he has always played that way. Jerry Lee Lewis style. He has already broken several bass strings at the agraffe. His piano playing style is not going to change, and he's not going to invest in a larger piano that will take this much hard playing so he has agreed to re-regulate to reduce the amount of power the hammers are inflicting on the strings. 

Todays question: Is it better/easier to decrease blow distance or increase letoff? Or maybe a bit of each. And, is there a quick and easy way to do either?

Looking forward to your replies. 

-- Thanks

I have no idea of the consequences but it seems to me that if one raised the glide bolts slightly it might affect the change desired by flexing the frame absorbing some of the energy.

Thanks, Wim.

Yeah, I am prepared for having the do each key separately. And customer already understands why the change is called for and the time and cost. But sometimes there is a shortcut that is not well known, so I thought I'd ask. Hadn't thought of reducing key dip, so thanks for that tip. 

-- Thanks

Seeing as I'm seeing this customer tomorrow I suddenly realize I probably should have posted this weeks ago. That said, I'll take whatever advice I can get in this short time. 

1998 Young Chang TG-50.

Recently had to replace the expanding action brackets. 

It's in a small church and the pastor, who is also the main player, loves to pound. Not for loudness but because he has always played that way. Jerry Lee Lewis style. He has already broken several bass strings at the agraffe. His piano playing style is not going to change, and he's not going to invest in a larger piano that will take this much hard playing so he has agreed to re-regulate to reduce the amount of power the hammers are inflicting on the strings. 

Todays question: Is it better/easier to decrease blow distance or increase letoff? Or maybe a bit of each. And, is there a quick and easy way to do either?

Looking forward to your replies. 

-- Thanks

Larry's idea is interesting! We are taught that to get maximum power transfer, the balance rail must be properly bedded. It makes sense that raising the glides and inducing flex would remove power-especially on fff playing, where the flex is likely to be the greatest.

Another thing to consider is putting some bushing cloth under the back rail cloth (if it's not glued down), or even on top of it. The nice thing about this is that it decreases the blow but keeps the proper key dip relationship by lowering the keys proportionally. Moreover, it is quick and reversible.

I have no idea of the consequences but it seems to me that if one raised the glide bolts slightly it might affect the change desired by flexing the frame absorbing some of the energy.

Thanks, Wim.

Yeah, I am prepared for having the do each key separately. And customer already understands why the change is called for and the time and cost. But sometimes there is a shortcut that is not well known, so I thought I'd ask. Hadn't thought of reducing key dip, so thanks for that tip. 

-- Thanks

Seeing as I'm seeing this customer tomorrow I suddenly realize I probably should have posted this weeks ago. That said, I'll take whatever advice I can get in this short time. 

1998 Young Chang TG-50.

Recently had to replace the expanding action brackets. 

It's in a small church and the pastor, who is also the main player, loves to pound. Not for loudness but because he has always played that way. Jerry Lee Lewis style. He has already broken several bass strings at the agraffe. His piano playing style is not going to change, and he's not going to invest in a larger piano that will take this much hard playing so he has agreed to re-regulate to reduce the amount of power the hammers are inflicting on the strings. 

Todays question: Is it better/easier to decrease blow distance or increase letoff? Or maybe a bit of each. And, is there a quick and easy way to do either?

Looking forward to your replies. 

-- Thanks

Seeing as I'm seeing this customer tomorrow I suddenly realize I probably should have posted this weeks ago. That said, I'll take whatever advice I can get in this short time. 

1998 Young Chang TG-50.

Recently had to replace the expanding action brackets. 

It's in a small church and the pastor, who is also the main player, loves to pound. Not for loudness but because he has always played that way. Jerry Lee Lewis style. He has already broken several bass strings at the agraffe. His piano playing style is not going to change, and he's not going to invest in a larger piano that will take this much hard playing so he has agreed to re-regulate to reduce the amount of power the hammers are inflicting on the strings. 

Todays question: Is it better/easier to decrease blow distance or increase letoff? Or maybe a bit of each. And, is there a quick and easy way to do either?

Looking forward to your replies. 

-- Thanks

A fellow technician who's skills and knowledge I respect (he takes care of all the pianos on one of the cruise lines - including the PIANO BARs) has told me that whereas decreasing blow and increasing letoff can have some beneficial effects (although limited), his recommendation for a pounder pianist has always been to mic the piano and set a monitor speaker pointed at and just to the side of the pianist. He has told me that if anything is going to work, that will do it. Oh, and turn the volume on the monitor speaker UP!

Seeing as I'm seeing this customer tomorrow I suddenly realize I probably should have posted this weeks ago. That said, I'll take whatever advice I can get in this short time. 

1998 Young Chang TG-50.

Recently had to replace the expanding action brackets. 

It's in a small church and the pastor, who is also the main player, loves to pound. Not for loudness but because he has always played that way. Jerry Lee Lewis style. He has already broken several bass strings at the agraffe. His piano playing style is not going to change, and he's not going to invest in a larger piano that will take this much hard playing so he has agreed to re-regulate to reduce the amount of power the hammers are inflicting on the strings. 

Todays question: Is it better/easier to decrease blow distance or increase letoff? Or maybe a bit of each. And, is there a quick and easy way to do either?

Looking forward to your replies. 

-- Thanks

Terry --

His grandfather started this little church. He learned to play from his father. They all are/were pounders. He knows he is overplaying the piano but he says his enthusiasm just takes over and that's where he unintentionally winds up. It's not about being loud. Thanks for the tip on the monitor. I have no idea how his sound person is setting up the stage for the band. I'll ask about monitors when I'm there today. Good idea.

I had another customer, a young customer, a long time ago, who pounded her Yamaha upright at home out of anger. It wasn't about being loud. She just did it to release. She was also breaking strings very frequently. I adjusted both blow distance and letoff, but nothing else. She said she loved the increased aftertouch, which was a lot. She also hasn't broken a string since. 

A fellow technician who's skills and knowledge I respect (he takes care of all the pianos on one of the cruise lines - including the PIANO BARs) has told me that whereas decreasing blow and increasing letoff can have some beneficial effects (although limited), his recommendation for a pounder pianist has always been to mic the piano and set a monitor speaker pointed at and just to the side of the pianist. He has told me that if anything is going to work, that will do it. Oh, and turn the volume on the monitor speaker UP!

Seeing as I'm seeing this customer tomorrow I suddenly realize I probably should have posted this weeks ago. That said, I'll take whatever advice I can get in this short time. 

1998 Young Chang TG-50.

Recently had to replace the expanding action brackets. 

It's in a small church and the pastor, who is also the main player, loves to pound. Not for loudness but because he has always played that way. Jerry Lee Lewis style. He has already broken several bass strings at the agraffe. His piano playing style is not going to change, and he's not going to invest in a larger piano that will take this much hard playing so he has agreed to re-regulate to reduce the amount of power the hammers are inflicting on the strings. 

Todays question: Is it better/easier to decrease blow distance or increase letoff? Or maybe a bit of each. And, is there a quick and easy way to do either?

Looking forward to your replies. 

-- Thanks

I know it's too late now, and probably not a possibility considering the circumstances, but rescaling the bass might help.  I tune for the Shouthouse here in San Diego, where the "schtick" is beating the $%^$ out of their dueling pianos.  I had JD Grandt rescale the strings for their C3's, and there is much less breakage than before.  YMMV.

Terry --

His grandfather started this little church. He learned to play from his father. They all are/were pounders. He knows he is overplaying the piano but he says his enthusiasm just takes over and that's where he unintentionally winds up. It's not about being loud. Thanks for the tip on the monitor. I have no idea how his sound person is setting up the stage for the band. I'll ask about monitors when I'm there today. Good idea.

I had another customer, a young customer, a long time ago, who pounded her Yamaha upright at home out of anger. It wasn't about being loud. She just did it to release. She was also breaking strings very frequently. I adjusted both blow distance and letoff, but nothing else. She said she loved the increased aftertouch, which was a lot. She also hasn't broken a string since. 

A fellow technician who's skills and knowledge I respect (he takes care of all the pianos on one of the cruise lines - including the PIANO BARs) has told me that whereas decreasing blow and increasing letoff can have some beneficial effects (although limited), his recommendation for a pounder pianist has always been to mic the piano and set a monitor speaker pointed at and just to the side of the pianist. He has told me that if anything is going to work, that will do it. Oh, and turn the volume on the monitor speaker UP!

Seeing as I'm seeing this customer tomorrow I suddenly realize I probably should have posted this weeks ago. That said, I'll take whatever advice I can get in this short time. 

1998 Young Chang TG-50.

Recently had to replace the expanding action brackets. 

It's in a small church and the pastor, who is also the main player, loves to pound. Not for loudness but because he has always played that way. Jerry Lee Lewis style. He has already broken several bass strings at the agraffe. His piano playing style is not going to change, and he's not going to invest in a larger piano that will take this much hard playing so he has agreed to re-regulate to reduce the amount of power the hammers are inflicting on the strings. 

Todays question: Is it better/easier to decrease blow distance or increase letoff? Or maybe a bit of each. And, is there a quick and easy way to do either?

Looking forward to your replies. 

-- Thanks

Seeing as I'm seeing this customer tomorrow I suddenly realize I probably should have posted this weeks ago. That said, I'll take whatever advice I can get in this short time. 

1998 Young Chang TG-50.

Recently had to replace the expanding action brackets. 

It's in a small church and the pastor, who is also the main player, loves to pound. Not for loudness but because he has always played that way. Jerry Lee Lewis style. He has already broken several bass strings at the agraffe. His piano playing style is not going to change, and he's not going to invest in a larger piano that will take this much hard playing so he has agreed to re-regulate to reduce the amount of power the hammers are inflicting on the strings. 

Todays question: Is it better/easier to decrease blow distance or increase letoff? Or maybe a bit of each. And, is there a quick and easy way to do either?

Looking forward to your replies. 

-- Thanks

Seeing as I'm seeing this customer tomorrow I suddenly realize I probably should have posted this weeks ago. That said, I'll take whatever advice I can get in this short time. 

1998 Young Chang TG-50.

Recently had to replace the expanding action brackets. 

It's in a small church and the pastor, who is also the main player, loves to pound. Not for loudness but because he has always played that way. Jerry Lee Lewis style. He has already broken several bass strings at the agraffe. His piano playing style is not going to change, and he's not going to invest in a larger piano that will take this much hard playing so he has agreed to re-regulate to reduce the amount of power the hammers are inflicting on the strings. 

Todays question: Is it better/easier to decrease blow distance or increase letoff? Or maybe a bit of each. And, is there a quick and easy way to do either?

Looking forward to your replies. 

-- Thanks

Seeing as I'm seeing this customer tomorrow I suddenly realize I probably should have posted this weeks ago. That said, I'll take whatever advice I can get in this short time. 

1998 Young Chang TG-50.

Recently had to replace the expanding action brackets. 

It's in a small church and the pastor, who is also the main player, loves to pound. Not for loudness but because he has always played that way. Jerry Lee Lewis style. He has already broken several bass strings at the agraffe. His piano playing style is not going to change, and he's not going to invest in a larger piano that will take this much hard playing so he has agreed to re-regulate to reduce the amount of power the hammers are inflicting on the strings. 

Todays question: Is it better/easier to decrease blow distance or increase letoff? Or maybe a bit of each. And, is there a quick and easy way to do either?

Looking forward to your replies. 

-- Thanks

Original Message:
Sent: 8/11/2025 6:20:00 PM
From: Geoff Sykes
Subject: Reducing blow strength/power

Seeing as I'm seeing this customer tomorrow I suddenly realize I probably should have posted this weeks ago. That said, I'll take whatever advice I can get in this short time. 

1998 Young Chang TG-50.

Recently had to replace the expanding action brackets. 

It's in a small church and the pastor, who is also the main player, loves to pound. Not for loudness but because he has always played that way. Jerry Lee Lewis style. He has already broken several bass strings at the agraffe. His piano playing style is not going to change, and he's not going to invest in a larger piano that will take this much hard playing so he has agreed to re-regulate to reduce the amount of power the hammers are inflicting on the strings. 

Todays question: Is it better/easier to decrease blow distance or increase letoff? Or maybe a bit of each. And, is there a quick and easy way to do either?

Looking forward to your replies. 

-- Thanks

------------------------------
Geoff Sykes, RPT
Los Angeles CA
------------------------------

Seeing as I'm seeing this customer tomorrow I suddenly realize I probably should have posted this weeks ago. That said, I'll take whatever advice I can get in this short time. 

1998 Young Chang TG-50.

Recently had to replace the expanding action brackets. 

It's in a small church and the pastor, who is also the main player, loves to pound. Not for loudness but because he has always played that way. Jerry Lee Lewis style. He has already broken several bass strings at the agraffe. His piano playing style is not going to change, and he's not going to invest in a larger piano that will take this much hard playing so he has agreed to re-regulate to reduce the amount of power the hammers are inflicting on the strings. 

Todays question: Is it better/easier to decrease blow distance or increase letoff? Or maybe a bit of each. And, is there a quick and easy way to do either?

Looking forward to your replies. 

-- Thanks

UPDATE:

First off, my apologies for misidentifying this piano. It's a 1998 Young Chang TG-150. A 50 would only be about 20" long. Oops!

I wound up adding some bushing cloth to beneath the back rail cloth, plus just a touch of reducing blow distance. The hammers are now resting about 1/2 the thickness of the shanks higher than before. Maybe a little more. I can see and feel the difference in aftertouch but the customer couldn't tell. 

On the other hand, I did my good deed for the day. I have another customer who is moving and wants to get rid of their 1976 Kawai KG-2C. It's in great condition and I've been servicing it once a year for the last eight. I put the two customers in touch with each other and the Kawai owner agreed to donate the piano to the church in return for some kind of tax donation form. The Kawai is going to replace the Young Chang and the Young Chang is going to be moved into a multi-use room, where it will get played much less aggressively, replacing an old beat up spinet. Everyone is happy. Including me. I got a nice tip and now I don't have to work on the spinet. 

Thanks to all for your recommendations. Helped a lot.  

Seeing as I'm seeing this customer tomorrow I suddenly realize I probably should have posted this weeks ago. That said, I'll take whatever advice I can get in this short time. 

1998 Young Chang TG-50.

Recently had to replace the expanding action brackets. 

It's in a small church and the pastor, who is also the main player, loves to pound. Not for loudness but because he has always played that way. Jerry Lee Lewis style. He has already broken several bass strings at the agraffe. His piano playing style is not going to change, and he's not going to invest in a larger piano that will take this much hard playing so he has agreed to re-regulate to reduce the amount of power the hammers are inflicting on the strings. 

Todays question: Is it better/easier to decrease blow distance or increase letoff? Or maybe a bit of each. And, is there a quick and easy way to do either?

Looking forward to your replies. 

-- Thanks

UPDATE:

First off, my apologies for misidentifying this piano. It's a 1998 Young Chang TG-150. A 50 would only be about 20" long. Oops!

I wound up adding some bushing cloth to beneath the back rail cloth, plus just a touch of reducing blow distance. The hammers are now resting about 1/2 the thickness of the shanks higher than before. Maybe a little more. I can see and feel the difference in aftertouch but the customer couldn't tell. 

On the other hand, I did my good deed for the day. I have another customer who is moving and wants to get rid of their 1976 Kawai KG-2C. It's in great condition and I've been servicing it once a year for the last eight. I put the two customers in touch with each other and the Kawai owner agreed to donate the piano to the church in return for some kind of tax donation form. The Kawai is going to replace the Young Chang and the Young Chang is going to be moved into a multi-use room, where it will get played much less aggressively, replacing an old beat up spinet. Everyone is happy. Including me. I got a nice tip and now I don't have to work on the spinet. 

Thanks to all for your recommendations. Helped a lot.  

Seeing as I'm seeing this customer tomorrow I suddenly realize I probably should have posted this weeks ago. That said, I'll take whatever advice I can get in this short time. 

1998 Young Chang TG-50.

Recently had to replace the expanding action brackets. 

It's in a small church and the pastor, who is also the main player, loves to pound. Not for loudness but because he has always played that way. Jerry Lee Lewis style. He has already broken several bass strings at the agraffe. His piano playing style is not going to change, and he's not going to invest in a larger piano that will take this much hard playing so he has agreed to re-regulate to reduce the amount of power the hammers are inflicting on the strings. 

Todays question: Is it better/easier to decrease blow distance or increase letoff? Or maybe a bit of each. And, is there a quick and easy way to do either?

Looking forward to your replies. 

-- Thanks