Pianotech

A dealer I work for recently received three recently rebuilt Steinway Bs, from the same rebuilder.

Two are very nice and only needed a bit of touch-up on regulation and some tuning.

One is unpleasantly heavy.  The bass is just over 65 grams DW, the tenor is about 60 grams and the treble is 50 to 60 grams.  The keys on this one received extensive plugging and re-leading.  Complete lubrication didn't change much of the DW.  I can't increase after-touch more. All three pianos seem to have the same set of somewhat large hammers.  Hammers have been tapered.

What parameters should I look for?  Are these possibly the wrong shanks for this year?  Did they move the capstains around from year to year?

A dealer I work for recently received three recently rebuilt Steinway Bs, from the same rebuilder.

Two are very nice and only needed a bit of touch-up on regulation and some tuning.

One is unpleasantly heavy.  The bass is just over 65 grams DW, the tenor is about 60 grams and the treble is 50 to 60 grams.  The keys on this one received extensive plugging and re-leading.  Complete lubrication didn't change much of the DW.  I can't increase after-touch more. All three pianos seem to have the same set of somewhat large hammers.  Hammers have been tapered.

What parameters should I look for?  Are these possibly the wrong shanks for this year?  Did they move the capstains around from year to year?

Hi Blaine,

It would really help to know Down Weight, Up Weight, and Front Weight.    

A dealer I work for recently received three recently rebuilt Steinway Bs, from the same rebuilder.

Two are very nice and only needed a bit of touch-up on regulation and some tuning.

One is unpleasantly heavy.  The bass is just over 65 grams DW, the tenor is about 60 grams and the treble is 50 to 60 grams.  The keys on this one received extensive plugging and re-leading.  Complete lubrication didn't change much of the DW.  I can't increase after-touch more. All three pianos seem to have the same set of somewhat large hammers.  Hammers have been tapered.

What parameters should I look for?  Are these possibly the wrong shanks for this year?  Did they move the capstains around from year to year?

I will take measurements when I return to the store.

Thanks

Hi Blaine,

It would really help to know Down Weight, Up Weight, and Front Weight.    

A dealer I work for recently received three recently rebuilt Steinway Bs, from the same rebuilder.

Two are very nice and only needed a bit of touch-up on regulation and some tuning.

One is unpleasantly heavy.  The bass is just over 65 grams DW, the tenor is about 60 grams and the treble is 50 to 60 grams.  The keys on this one received extensive plugging and re-leading.  Complete lubrication didn't change much of the DW.  I can't increase after-touch more. All three pianos seem to have the same set of somewhat large hammers.  Hammers have been tapered.

What parameters should I look for?  Are these possibly the wrong shanks for this year?  Did they move the capstains around from year to year?

Abd comparative age data too 😉 

Peter Grey Piano Doctor 

I will take measurements when I return to the store.

Thanks

Hi Blaine,

It would really help to know Down Weight, Up Weight, and Front Weight.    

A dealer I work for recently received three recently rebuilt Steinway Bs, from the same rebuilder.

Two are very nice and only needed a bit of touch-up on regulation and some tuning.

One is unpleasantly heavy.  The bass is just over 65 grams DW, the tenor is about 60 grams and the treble is 50 to 60 grams.  The keys on this one received extensive plugging and re-leading.  Complete lubrication didn't change much of the DW.  I can't increase after-touch more. All three pianos seem to have the same set of somewhat large hammers.  Hammers have been tapered.

What parameters should I look for?  Are these possibly the wrong shanks for this year?  Did they move the capstains around from year to year?

A dealer I work for recently received three recently rebuilt Steinway Bs, from the same rebuilder.

Two are very nice and only needed a bit of touch-up on regulation and some tuning.

One is unpleasantly heavy.  The bass is just over 65 grams DW, the tenor is about 60 grams and the treble is 50 to 60 grams.  The keys on this one received extensive plugging and re-leading.  Complete lubrication didn't change much of the DW.  I can't increase after-touch more. All three pianos seem to have the same set of somewhat large hammers.  Hammers have been tapered.

What parameters should I look for?  Are these possibly the wrong shanks for this year?  Did they move the capstains around from year to year?

How does it regulate?  If you have a blow distance of 46mm, and let-off of 2mm, how much dip is needed to get 1mm of after touch (.040").  Sometimes just looking at how a piano regulates will show you there is a geometry problem. For example, if you only have 9.2mm of dip to get 1mm aftertouch, and blow distance is 46mm, you probably have a geometry problem. If you have 10-10.5mm dip, probably a hammer weight problem.  It may not tell you exactly where the problem is, but it is a simple way to get pointed in the right direction. 

Another quick thing to check is distance from hammer center to knuckle center.  If it's 16mm or less, it points to the older Steinway action, which was optimized for older, lighter hammers than what we have today.  Again, not conclusive, but it might give you a direction to look.

A dealer I work for recently received three recently rebuilt Steinway Bs, from the same rebuilder.

Two are very nice and only needed a bit of touch-up on regulation and some tuning.

One is unpleasantly heavy.  The bass is just over 65 grams DW, the tenor is about 60 grams and the treble is 50 to 60 grams.  The keys on this one received extensive plugging and re-leading.  Complete lubrication didn't change much of the DW.  I can't increase after-touch more. All three pianos seem to have the same set of somewhat large hammers.  Hammers have been tapered.

What parameters should I look for?  Are these possibly the wrong shanks for this year?  Did they move the capstains around from year to year?

A dealer I work for recently received three recently rebuilt Steinway Bs, from the same rebuilder.

Two are very nice and only needed a bit of touch-up on regulation and some tuning.

One is unpleasantly heavy.  The bass is just over 65 grams DW, the tenor is about 60 grams and the treble is 50 to 60 grams.  The keys on this one received extensive plugging and re-leading.  Complete lubrication didn't change much of the DW.  I can't increase after-touch more. All three pianos seem to have the same set of somewhat large hammers.  Hammers have been tapered.

What parameters should I look for?  Are these possibly the wrong shanks for this year?  Did they move the capstains around from year to year?