Pianotech

Working on a 1922 Steinway O right now.  The action stack is a bit low according to Steinway specifications.

Taking measurements at that five action brackets, the hammer shank pin centers are 144.7 to 145.0 mm from the action bed. Steinway spec is 146 mm, so they are 1 to 1.3 mm too low. 

The wippen pin centers are from 80.1 to 80.7 mm from the action bed. Steinway spec is 82.6, so they are .9 to 2 mm too low.

String height in bass section varies from 198 to 119.3mm. In tenor section string height is 191 to 191.5 mm, and in treble section string height is 191.0 mm on key #61 tapering down to 189.1 mm on key #88.

Some of the experienced technicians I have been talking to say to shim and raise the action so that the distance from the key bed to the shank and wippen pin centers is on spec. Then do a custom hammer bore to compensate for varying string heights.

But, on some older discussion threads, some say that Steinway may have set the top action stack deliberately lower to compensate for a lower than spec string height. Because of that I want to get some fresh opinions about this question.

What do you all think about this question? And how do you proceed with setting shank and wippen center pin height when you have a piano with lower than spec string heights.

Thanks for your help!

------------------------------
Joe Burros
Cell: 646-410-7174
jbcello@gmail.com
www.fmi-newengland.com
------------------------------

Joe,

Double check your bass string height measurements. Something is seriously off there. Your treble string height is pretty close to typical SS spec of 7.5"

Also,  what would be your hammer bore spec as is?

Peter Grey Piano Doctor 

------------------------------
Peter Grey
Stratham NH
(603) 686-2395
pianodoctor57@gmail.com

Original Message:
Sent: 12-12-2023 17:40
From: Joseph Burros
Subject: What's more important? Correct shank & wippen center pin distance to key bed or distance to bottom of string?

Working on a 1922 Steinway O right now.  The action stack is a bit low according to Steinway specifications.

Taking measurements at that five action brackets, the hammer shank pin centers are 144.7 to 145.0 mm from the action bed. Steinway spec is 146 mm, so they are 1 to 1.3 mm too low. 

The wippen pin centers are from 80.1 to 80.7 mm from the action bed. Steinway spec is 82.6, so they are .9 to 2 mm too low.

String height in bass section varies from 198 to 119.3mm. In tenor section string height is 191 to 191.5 mm, and in treble section string height is 191.0 mm on key #61 tapering down to 189.1 mm on key #88.

Some of the experienced technicians I have been talking to say to shim and raise the action so that the distance from the key bed to the shank and wippen pin centers is on spec. Then do a custom hammer bore to compensate for varying string heights.

But, on some older discussion threads, some say that Steinway may have set the top action stack deliberately lower to compensate for a lower than spec string height. Because of that I want to get some fresh opinions about this question.

What do you all think about this question? And how do you proceed with setting shank and wippen center pin height when you have a piano with lower than spec string heights.

Thanks for your help!

------------------------------
Joe Burros
Cell: 646-410-7174
jbcello@gmail.com
www.fmi-newengland.com
------------------------------

Oh, I made a mistake in typing the bass string heights. I have corrected it.  I am going to put new hammers on the piano, so I can do custom hammer bore if needed.

Joe,

Double check your bass string height measurements. Something is seriously off there. Your treble string height is pretty close to typical SS spec of 7.5"

Also,  what would be your hammer bore spec as is?

Peter Grey Piano Doctor 

------------------------------
Peter Grey
Stratham NH
(603) 686-2395
pianodoctor57@gmail.com

Original Message:
Sent: 12-12-2023 17:40
From: Joseph Burros
Subject: What's more important? Correct shank & wippen center pin distance to key bed or distance to bottom of string?

Working on a 1922 Steinway O right now.  The action stack is a bit low according to Steinway specifications.

Taking measurements at that five action brackets, the hammer shank pin centers are 144.7 to 145.0 mm from the action bed. Steinway spec is 146 mm, so they are 1 to 1.3 mm too low. 

The wippen pin centers are from 80.1 to 80.7 mm from the action bed. Steinway spec is 82.6, so they are .9 to 2 mm too low.

String height in bass section varies from 198 to 119.3mm. In tenor section string height is 191 to 191.5 mm, and in treble section string height is 191.0 mm on key #61 tapering down to 189.1 mm on key #88.

Some of the experienced technicians I have been talking to say to shim and raise the action so that the distance from the key bed to the shank and wippen pin centers is on spec. Then do a custom hammer bore to compensate for varying string heights.

But, on some older discussion threads, some say that Steinway may have set the top action stack deliberately lower to compensate for a lower than spec string height. Because of that I want to get some fresh opinions about this question.

What do you all think about this question? And how do you proceed with setting shank and wippen center pin height when you have a piano with lower than spec string heights.

Thanks for your help!

------------------------------
Joe Burros
Cell: 646-410-7174
jbcello@gmail.com
www.fmi-newengland.com
------------------------------

Working on a 1922 Steinway O right now.  The action stack is a bit low according to Steinway specifications.

Taking measurements at that five action brackets, the hammer shank pin centers are 144.7 to 145.0 mm from the action bed. Steinway spec is 146 mm, so they are 1 to 1.3 mm too low. 

The wippen pin centers are from 80.1 to 80.7 mm from the action bed. Steinway spec is 82.6, so they are .9 to 2 mm too low.

String height in bass section varies from 198 to 119.3mm. In tenor section string height is 191 to 191.5 mm, and in treble section string height is 191.0 mm on key #61 tapering down to 189.1 mm on key #88.

Some of the experienced technicians I have been talking to say to shim and raise the action so that the distance from the key bed to the shank and wippen pin centers is on spec. Then do a custom hammer bore to compensate for varying string heights.

But, on some older discussion threads, some say that Steinway may have set the top action stack deliberately lower to compensate for a lower than spec string height. Because of that I want to get some fresh opinions about this question.

What do you all think about this question? And how do you proceed with setting shank and wippen center pin height when you have a piano with lower than spec string heights.

Thanks for your help!

Working on a 1922 Steinway O right now.  The action stack is a bit low according to Steinway specifications.

Taking measurements at that five action brackets, the hammer shank pin centers are 144.7 to 145.0 mm from the action bed. Steinway spec is 146 mm, so they are 1 to 1.3 mm too low. 

The wippen pin centers are from 80.1 to 80.7 mm from the action bed. Steinway spec is 82.6, so they are .9 to 2 mm too low.

String height in bass section varies from 198 to 119.3mm. In tenor section string height is 191 to 191.5 mm, and in treble section string height is 191.0 mm on key #61 tapering down to 189.1 mm on key #88.

Some of the experienced technicians I have been talking to say to shim and raise the action so that the distance from the key bed to the shank and wippen pin centers is on spec. Then do a custom hammer bore to compensate for varying string heights.

But, on some older discussion threads, some say that Steinway may have set the top action stack deliberately lower to compensate for a lower than spec string height. Because of that I want to get some fresh opinions about this question.

What do you all think about this question? And how do you proceed with setting shank and wippen center pin height when you have a piano with lower than spec string heights.

Thanks for your help!

Hi Wim,

I am aware of what you are saying. Do you have any advice on how to proceed with this piano?

Thanks Joe

Working on a 1922 Steinway O right now.  The action stack is a bit low according to Steinway specifications.

Taking measurements at that five action brackets, the hammer shank pin centers are 144.7 to 145.0 mm from the action bed. Steinway spec is 146 mm, so they are 1 to 1.3 mm too low. 

The wippen pin centers are from 80.1 to 80.7 mm from the action bed. Steinway spec is 82.6, so they are .9 to 2 mm too low.

String height in bass section varies from 198 to 119.3mm. In tenor section string height is 191 to 191.5 mm, and in treble section string height is 191.0 mm on key #61 tapering down to 189.1 mm on key #88.

Some of the experienced technicians I have been talking to say to shim and raise the action so that the distance from the key bed to the shank and wippen pin centers is on spec. Then do a custom hammer bore to compensate for varying string heights.

But, on some older discussion threads, some say that Steinway may have set the top action stack deliberately lower to compensate for a lower than spec string height. Because of that I want to get some fresh opinions about this question.

What do you all think about this question? And how do you proceed with setting shank and wippen center pin height when you have a piano with lower than spec string heights.

Thanks for your help!

Working on a 1922 Steinway O right now.  The action stack is a bit low according to Steinway specifications.

Taking measurements at that five action brackets, the hammer shank pin centers are 144.7 to 145.0 mm from the action bed. Steinway spec is 146 mm, so they are 1 to 1.3 mm too low. 

The wippen pin centers are from 80.1 to 80.7 mm from the action bed. Steinway spec is 82.6, so they are .9 to 2 mm too low.

String height in bass section varies from 198 to 199.3mm. In tenor section string height is 191 to 191.5 mm, and in treble section string height is 191.0 mm on key #61 tapering down to 189.1 mm on key #88.

Some of the experienced technicians I have been talking to say to shim and raise the action so that the distance from the key bed to the shank and wippen pin centers is on spec. Then do a custom hammer bore to compensate for varying string heights.

But, on some older discussion threads, some say that Steinway may have set the top action stack deliberately lower to compensate for a lower than spec string height. Because of that I want to get some fresh opinions about this question.

What do you all think about this question? And how do you proceed with setting shank and wippen center pin height when you have a piano with lower than spec string heights.

Thanks for your help!

------------------------------
Joe Burros
Cell: 646-410-7174
jbcello@gmail.com
www.fmi-newengland.com
------------------------------

Working on a 1922 Steinway O right now.  The action stack is a bit low according to Steinway specifications.

Taking measurements at the five action brackets, the hammer shank pin centers are 144.7 to 145.0 mm from the action bed. Steinway spec is 146 mm, so they are 1 to 1.3 mm too low. 

The wippen pin centers are from 80.1 to 80.7 mm from the action bed. Steinway spec is 82.6, so they are .9 to 2 mm too low.

String height in bass section varies from 198 to 199.3mm. In tenor section string height is 191 to 191.5 mm, and in treble section string height is 191.0 mm on key #61 tapering down to 189.1 mm on key #88.

Some of the experienced technicians I have been talking to say to shim and raise the action so that the distance from the key bed to the shank and wippen pin centers is on spec. Then do a custom hammer bore to compensate for varying string heights.

But, on some older discussion threads, some say that Steinway may have set the top action stack deliberately lower to compensate for a lower than spec string height. Because of that I want to get some fresh opinions about this question.

What do you all think about this question? And how do you proceed with setting shank and wippen center pin height when you have a piano with lower than spec string heights.

Thanks for your help!

------------------------------
Joe Burros
Cell: 646-410-7174
jbcello@gmail.com
www.fmi-newengland.com
------------------------------