Pianotech

Today I took on the challenging task of doing a pitch raise on a fairly old spinet piano.  While I was working on it I noticed that all of the key lips had been filed off.  I'm guessing this was due to some (or many) of them being chipped and ragged and the easiest and cheapest thing to do was to get rid of all of the lips all together.  This led me to start wondering why they are there in the first place.  After I was done I had no problem in playing the piano ... at least not due to missing key lips.  So I'm asking "Why are they there?".  I couldn't think of one, but I'm hoping someone knows the history behind them and what they are good for.

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Neil Vanderschaaf
Round Rock TX
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Today I took on the challenging task of doing a pitch raise on a fairly old spinet piano.  While I was working on it I noticed that all of the key lips had been filed off.  I'm guessing this was due to some (or many) of them being chipped and ragged and the easiest and cheapest thing to do was to get rid of all of the lips all together.  This led me to start wondering why they are there in the first place.  After I was done I had no problem in playing the piano ... at least not due to missing key lips.  So I'm asking "Why are they there?".  I couldn't think of one, but I'm hoping someone knows the history behind them and what they are good for.

Today I took on the challenging task of doing a pitch raise on a fairly old spinet piano.  While I was working on it I noticed that all of the key lips had been filed off.  I'm guessing this was due to some (or many) of them being chipped and ragged and the easiest and cheapest thing to do was to get rid of all of the lips all together.  This led me to start wondering why they are there in the first place.  After I was done I had no problem in playing the piano ... at least not due to missing key lips.  So I'm asking "Why are they there?".  I couldn't think of one, but I'm hoping someone knows the history behind them and what they are good for.

Today I took on the challenging task of doing a pitch raise on a fairly old spinet piano.  While I was working on it I noticed that all of the key lips had been filed off.  I'm guessing this was due to some (or many) of them being chipped and ragged and the easiest and cheapest thing to do was to get rid of all of the lips all together.  This led me to start wondering why they are there in the first place.  After I was done I had no problem in playing the piano ... at least not due to missing key lips.  So I'm asking "Why are they there?".  I couldn't think of one, but I'm hoping someone knows the history behind them and what they are good for.

------------------------------
Neil Vanderschaaf
Round Rock TX
------------------------------

Today I took on the challenging task of doing a pitch raise on a fairly old spinet piano.  While I was working on it I noticed that all of the key lips had been filed off.  I'm guessing this was due to some (or many) of them being chipped and ragged and the easiest and cheapest thing to do was to get rid of all of the lips all together.  This led me to start wondering why they are there in the first place.  After I was done I had no problem in playing the piano ... at least not due to missing key lips.  So I'm asking "Why are they there?".  I couldn't think of one, but I'm hoping someone knows the history behind them and what they are good for.

Today I took on the challenging task of doing a pitch raise on a fairly old spinet piano.  While I was working on it I noticed that all of the key lips had been filed off.  I'm guessing this was due to some (or many) of them being chipped and ragged and the easiest and cheapest thing to do was to get rid of all of the lips all together.  This led me to start wondering why they are there in the first place.  After I was done I had no problem in playing the piano ... at least not due to missing key lips.  So I'm asking "Why are they there?".  I couldn't think of one, but I'm hoping someone knows the history behind them and what they are good for.

I've found the lip helpful when trying play very wide intervals, as I can play off the front of the key, not just the top.  For example, my pinky can be on a C#2, and my thumb can pull down on the front of E3 (is that a m17th?).  On pianos without a lip, I cannot do this.

I can't reach a M17, maybe if I stretch a lot I'll get there.

Today I took on the challenging task of doing a pitch raise on a fairly old spinet piano.  While I was working on it I noticed that all of the key lips had been filed off.  I'm guessing this was due to some (or many) of them being chipped and ragged and the easiest and cheapest thing to do was to get rid of all of the lips all together.  This led me to start wondering why they are there in the first place.  After I was done I had no problem in playing the piano ... at least not due to missing key lips.  So I'm asking "Why are they there?".  I couldn't think of one, but I'm hoping someone knows the history behind them and what they are good for.

I've deduced over the years that its for two reasons 1) hide the glue joint and 2) to avoid square corners.

-chris

I've found the lip helpful when trying play very wide intervals, as I can play off the front of the key, not just the top.  For example, my pinky can be on a C#2, and my thumb can pull down on the front of E3 (is that a m17th?).  On pianos without a lip, I cannot do this.

I can't reach a M17, maybe if I stretch a lot I'll get there.

Today I took on the challenging task of doing a pitch raise on a fairly old spinet piano.  While I was working on it I noticed that all of the key lips had been filed off.  I'm guessing this was due to some (or many) of them being chipped and ragged and the easiest and cheapest thing to do was to get rid of all of the lips all together.  This led me to start wondering why they are there in the first place.  After I was done I had no problem in playing the piano ... at least not due to missing key lips.  So I'm asking "Why are they there?".  I couldn't think of one, but I'm hoping someone knows the history behind them and what they are good for.

I've deduced over the years that its for two reasons 1) hide the glue joint and 2) to avoid square corners.

-chris

I've found the lip helpful when trying play very wide intervals, as I can play off the front of the key, not just the top.  For example, my pinky can be on a C#2, and my thumb can pull down on the front of E3 (is that a m17th?).  On pianos without a lip, I cannot do this.

I can't reach a M17, maybe if I stretch a lot I'll get there.

Today I took on the challenging task of doing a pitch raise on a fairly old spinet piano.  While I was working on it I noticed that all of the key lips had been filed off.  I'm guessing this was due to some (or many) of them being chipped and ragged and the easiest and cheapest thing to do was to get rid of all of the lips all together.  This led me to start wondering why they are there in the first place.  After I was done I had no problem in playing the piano ... at least not due to missing key lips.  So I'm asking "Why are they there?".  I couldn't think of one, but I'm hoping someone knows the history behind them and what they are good for.

I've found the lip helpful when trying play very wide intervals, as I can play off the front of the key, not just the top.  For example, my pinky can be on a C#2, and my thumb can pull down on the front of E3 (is that a m17th?).  On pianos without a lip, I cannot do this.

I can't reach a M17, maybe if I stretch a lot I'll get there.

Today I took on the challenging task of doing a pitch raise on a fairly old spinet piano.  While I was working on it I noticed that all of the key lips had been filed off.  I'm guessing this was due to some (or many) of them being chipped and ragged and the easiest and cheapest thing to do was to get rid of all of the lips all together.  This led me to start wondering why they are there in the first place.  After I was done I had no problem in playing the piano ... at least not due to missing key lips.  So I'm asking "Why are they there?".  I couldn't think of one, but I'm hoping someone knows the history behind them and what they are good for.

I've found the lip helpful when trying play very wide intervals, as I can play off the front of the key, not just the top.  For example, my pinky can be on a C#2, and my thumb can pull down on the front of E3 (is that a m17th?).  On pianos without a lip, I cannot do this.

I can't reach a M17, maybe if I stretch a lot I'll get there.

Today I took on the challenging task of doing a pitch raise on a fairly old spinet piano.  While I was working on it I noticed that all of the key lips had been filed off.  I'm guessing this was due to some (or many) of them being chipped and ragged and the easiest and cheapest thing to do was to get rid of all of the lips all together.  This led me to start wondering why they are there in the first place.  After I was done I had no problem in playing the piano ... at least not due to missing key lips.  So I'm asking "Why are they there?".  I couldn't think of one, but I'm hoping someone knows the history behind them and what they are good for.

Oh yeah, duh.  Perhaps not enough coffee, or maybe too much!

Too much tooning, not enough playing!

Thanks!

I've found the lip helpful when trying play very wide intervals, as I can play off the front of the key, not just the top.  For example, my pinky can be on a C#2, and my thumb can pull down on the front of E3 (is that a m17th?).  On pianos without a lip, I cannot do this.

I can't reach a M17, maybe if I stretch a lot I'll get there.

Today I took on the challenging task of doing a pitch raise on a fairly old spinet piano.  While I was working on it I noticed that all of the key lips had been filed off.  I'm guessing this was due to some (or many) of them being chipped and ragged and the easiest and cheapest thing to do was to get rid of all of the lips all together.  This led me to start wondering why they are there in the first place.  After I was done I had no problem in playing the piano ... at least not due to missing key lips.  So I'm asking "Why are they there?".  I couldn't think of one, but I'm hoping someone knows the history behind them and what they are good for.

Oh yeah, duh.  Perhaps not enough coffee, or maybe too much!

Too much tooning, not enough playing!

Thanks!

I've found the lip helpful when trying play very wide intervals, as I can play off the front of the key, not just the top.  For example, my pinky can be on a C#2, and my thumb can pull down on the front of E3 (is that a m17th?).  On pianos without a lip, I cannot do this.

I can't reach a M17, maybe if I stretch a lot I'll get there.

Today I took on the challenging task of doing a pitch raise on a fairly old spinet piano.  While I was working on it I noticed that all of the key lips had been filed off.  I'm guessing this was due to some (or many) of them being chipped and ragged and the easiest and cheapest thing to do was to get rid of all of the lips all together.  This led me to start wondering why they are there in the first place.  After I was done I had no problem in playing the piano ... at least not due to missing key lips.  So I'm asking "Why are they there?".  I couldn't think of one, but I'm hoping someone knows the history behind them and what they are good for.

Oh yeah, duh.  Perhaps not enough coffee, or maybe too much!

Too much tooning, not enough playing!

Thanks!

I've found the lip helpful when trying play very wide intervals, as I can play off the front of the key, not just the top.  For example, my pinky can be on a C#2, and my thumb can pull down on the front of E3 (is that a m17th?).  On pianos without a lip, I cannot do this.

I can't reach a M17, maybe if I stretch a lot I'll get there.

Today I took on the challenging task of doing a pitch raise on a fairly old spinet piano.  While I was working on it I noticed that all of the key lips had been filed off.  I'm guessing this was due to some (or many) of them being chipped and ragged and the easiest and cheapest thing to do was to get rid of all of the lips all together.  This led me to start wondering why they are there in the first place.  After I was done I had no problem in playing the piano ... at least not due to missing key lips.  So I'm asking "Why are they there?".  I couldn't think of one, but I'm hoping someone knows the history behind them and what they are good for.

Tom
We all need to think Why and What if and How can we make this better?  I'm glad you asked the question and find the fun in the answers and having not enough fun playing.  I liked the hide the glue joint of the key front the best!  And I'm sure when we see another chipped key top of a molded key top w front we will be thinking of your question. 

Oh yeah, duh.  Perhaps not enough coffee, or maybe too much!

Too much tooning, not enough playing!

Thanks!

I've found the lip helpful when trying play very wide intervals, as I can play off the front of the key, not just the top.  For example, my pinky can be on a C#2, and my thumb can pull down on the front of E3 (is that a m17th?).  On pianos without a lip, I cannot do this.

I can't reach a M17, maybe if I stretch a lot I'll get there.

Today I took on the challenging task of doing a pitch raise on a fairly old spinet piano.  While I was working on it I noticed that all of the key lips had been filed off.  I'm guessing this was due to some (or many) of them being chipped and ragged and the easiest and cheapest thing to do was to get rid of all of the lips all together.  This led me to start wondering why they are there in the first place.  After I was done I had no problem in playing the piano ... at least not due to missing key lips.  So I'm asking "Why are they there?".  I couldn't think of one, but I'm hoping someone knows the history behind them and what they are good for.

Tom
We all need to think Why and What if and How can we make this better?  I'm glad you asked the question and find the fun in the answers and having not enough fun playing.  I liked the hide the glue joint of the key front the best!  And I'm sure when we see another chipped key top of a molded key top w front we will be thinking of your question. 

Oh yeah, duh.  Perhaps not enough coffee, or maybe too much!

Too much tooning, not enough playing!

Thanks!

I've found the lip helpful when trying play very wide intervals, as I can play off the front of the key, not just the top.  For example, my pinky can be on a C#2, and my thumb can pull down on the front of E3 (is that a m17th?).  On pianos without a lip, I cannot do this.

I can't reach a M17, maybe if I stretch a lot I'll get there.

Today I took on the challenging task of doing a pitch raise on a fairly old spinet piano.  While I was working on it I noticed that all of the key lips had been filed off.  I'm guessing this was due to some (or many) of them being chipped and ragged and the easiest and cheapest thing to do was to get rid of all of the lips all together.  This led me to start wondering why they are there in the first place.  After I was done I had no problem in playing the piano ... at least not due to missing key lips.  So I'm asking "Why are they there?".  I couldn't think of one, but I'm hoping someone knows the history behind them and what they are good for.