Piano Action Regulation
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Piano Action Regulation
My issue is the keyboard keybed. I have keys that don’t return once depressed. Not sure what is causing this,
Was wondering if anyone has had this problem and how
To fix this problem. Would a action regulation fix this?
I don’t know much in regards of what is done in an action regulation. I also have my pedals marking a clicking noise.
The sustain pedal works alright the soft piano pedal works
All right it seems that the middle pedal I guess that’s the uacorda pedal? Sorry if I spelt or called it wrong . I read some things about action regulation being is time consuming and costly. I don’t live in the UK I live in the
US. I joined this forum because August forester are more
Popular in Europe than the USA. Any information in regards to these problems and solutions would be greatly appreciated thanks.
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Re: Piano Action Regulation
Post by Barrie Heaton »
Damp, foreign bodies and worn-out action. most can be solved by good service.
A service takes between two and eight hours, depending on whether it's a grand or a upright and how long ago it was last serviced.
In the United Kingdom at the moment, a lot of pianos are getting sluggish notes because we've had quite a humid summer, because of the cost of fuel, most people are not putting the heating on in sep oct which helps to dry out the piano.
Will contact your piano tuner and ask if they do regulate and service of your piano.
Barrie
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Re: Piano Action Regulation
Re: Piano Action Regulation
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Re: Piano Action Regulation
Post by Barrie Heaton »
Depending on the state of the piano, it takes between two and eight hours.
Your hammers probably need refaceing, and if the hammers are refaced, the piano will need voicing.
On service:
- Frame bolts tightened.
hammers refaced.
Hammer travel and spacing checked.
the keys are taken out all the crap is cleaned out from underneath
all friction points are done on the keys
Friction points on the springs are done, and on the damper lift spoons
Lost motion
The keys are re-levelled depth of touch or dip
Set off and check-in is redone.
dampers checked over the total lift and individual lift.
Pedals.
Tuned and voiced, then a fine regulation.
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Re: Piano Action Regulation
Information would be needed to be relative to making an estimate. Thanks I read somewhere it was somewhere in the neighborhood of $1500 dollars in the US. Seems very technical and highly specialized . Thanks appreciate your input
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Re: Piano Action Regulation
Post by Barrie Heaton »
I did the Boston grand on Tuesday full-service took me 7 hours the cost was £400
Barrie
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Re: Piano Action Regulation
A excellent bass response for a piano it’s size. Thanks value your input
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Re: Piano Action Regulation
Post by Barrie Heaton »
AS to the August Foresters, yes, I have the full range on my rounds the pre-GDR, the GDR and the modern version all uprights.
The ones made after the 90s are very very good or the price
Barrie
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Re: Piano Action Regulation
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Re: Piano Action Regulation
Post by Barrie Heaton »
Probably after 40 years, it may need some parts replaced. But without inspecting the piano very difficult to say I've been to Pianos which are over 100 years old and they're in immaculate condition, and I've been to Pianos which are 20 years old, and they need to rebuild
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Re: Piano Action Regulation
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Re: Piano Action Regulation
Post by Barrie Heaton »
A full set of new hammers, shanks, rollers and flanges,
A full set of new bottom sections
All keys rebushed
Balance pins and front touch pins polished and re-felted, the back felt done.
Balance pinholes resized.
A brand-new action, the hammers would have to then be heavily voiced to suit the piano. Prices $7K upwards.
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Re: Piano Action Regulation
Is there such a thing as a partial rebuild? Is that something that would get you closer to the piano performing like it was new. I would assume it would depend on what you actually replace and what is actually needed to replace. I saw where some very expensive pianos have rebuilds as a way to restore the piano . It was mostly for concert grands since the piano was so expensive to begin with verses getting a new piano altogether. I would think there would be a point to where the performance might not equal the cost. I don’t see myself ever getting another piano. Hopefully mine can be noticeably improved. Thanks
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Re: Piano Action Regulation
Post by Barrie Heaton »
If your tuner believes the piano is in good condition, then regulation should make a difference.
Barrie
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Re: Piano Action Regulatio
Reconditioning. I wonder if spending a $1000 dollars would be in vain. Rebuild is out of the question as is a completely new piano or even buying a used piano. I used to sale pianos and back then the piano market was in decline as I would think it would be now. I believe less grands are produced even now. Grand pianos are such a niche market and I would think that the target market is getting smaller. When I sold pianos the Steinway dealer pulled thier inventory from thier store in Pittsburgh which was a competitor. The store I worked for was losing money . The man that sold Steinways reopened his store years later . I remember those pearl river pianos but they were poor quality. The place I sold pianos sold Kawai. I always remember having to compete with people looking for Yamahas. My first piano was a Kawai
Upright. Traded it in for the august forester model 190. I’ve played the Yamaha avantgrand it was nice. I guess those are considered hybrids. Thier expensive as well. As much as my august forester cost new back in the day. Too bad the piano market has diminished the way it has. I don’t know what is like in the UK but in the US it has diminished. Thanks for you insight
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Re: Piano Action Regulation
Post by Barrie Heaton »
Depending on who you talk to in the UK, some shops are doing quite well selling new Pianos. For me, this year new Kawais are the top ones asked to do after-care visits for, the K200, K400 also K300 hybrid; I've done more brand-new Feurich grand this year than new Yamahas.
The secondhand market Yamaha U1 and U3 are still the top sellers.
Barrie
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Re: Piano Action Regulation
43 years old. It plays much better after the action regulation. I like the tone of my August Forester and I’m not sure it it would really benefit from a voicing. Thanks
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Re: Piano Action Regulation
Post by Barrie Heaton »
Barrie
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Re: Piano Action Regulation
Post by Barrie Heaton »
With voicing it, it all depends on what state the hammers are in and how picky the client is, it can take 2 to four hours for the first visit and a few visits after that.
Barrie
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Re: Piano Action Regulation And Touch
Making it so it doesn’t have as light of an action. I saw some videos where weights are installed to make the
Piano play different. Maybe resistance isn’t the right word. Was wondering if this was practical or maybe not even necessary. Possibly not even worth considering?
My action plays fine I just want to make the touch not as light. Thanks
Re: Piano Action RegulationAnd Touch
Thanks
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Re: Piano Action Regulation
Post by Barrie Heaton »
On a grand piano, you add sliding weights on the hammer shanks to increase the inertia.
However, like everything in life, it's not that simple. You've got to calculate and work out what you need, Get it wrong you make a piano uncomfortable. or unplayable
go and read
https://cooperpiano.com/the-effects-of- ... iano-keys/
Barrie
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Re: Piano Action Regulation
would be different since everyone would want varying degrees of a lighter or heavier responding action. I also wonder if concert grands have a heavier responding action
since it has to be able to have a wider dynamic range since it has to be able to be loud enough to play with a symphony orchestra. My piano being 8 inches shy of a
semi concertwouldnt have the speaking volume or dynamic range either. I like the way heavy actions feel and respond on semi and concert grands. I would think
they would be different than the way my action responds
and feels. I’ve played Steinways and liked the way thier action feels. Those pianos are in a different class and I don’t know if it’s even possible to get close to the way they feel. It’s alarming to think that by adding weights you can make the piano unplayable. Thanks
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Re: Piano Action Regulation
Post by Barrie Heaton »
Barrie
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Re: Piano Action Regulation
Also I wouldn’t know how you go about determining how much weight to add. If I remember correctly pianos have a different amount of resistance in the bass register than in other registers I think . I also wonder how this would affect the escapement of the piano. Escapement is something I never really understood. I wonder how many people that add weight improve the performance of the piano. I didn’t know if adding weight was something more done with grands although I know you mentioned the difference where the weights were applied in an upright verses a grand. I just don’t know of anyone that has done this. I also am clueless about the expense and the time needed for this modification to a grand piano .
Thanks appreciate your insight
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Re: Piano Action Regulation
Post by Barrie Heaton »
https://www.stanwoodpiano.com/first.html
Barrie
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Re: Piano Action Regulation
known among piano technicians and tuners. Would a technician that is accredited by the Piano Guild have that knowledge and be able to do that sort of modification? Thanks
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Re: Piano Action Regulation
Post by Barrie Heaton »
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