Mechanical Music Digest  Archives
You Are Not Logged In Login/Get New Account
Please Log In. Accounts are free!
Logged In users are granted additional features including a more current version of the Archives and a simplified process for submitting articles.
Home Archives Calendar Gallery Store Links Info
MMD > Archives > March 2015 > 2015.03.26 > 01Prev  Next


Touch Weight on Fischer Ampico Grand
By Bill Maguire

Rob Buskop mentions he has a 60 gram down weight which is "heavy"
[150324 MMDigest].  Your problem _may_ be related to "piano action
geometry."  You mention the "spread between the whippen flange center
and the knuckle center.  I worked for one of the largest used Steinway
sellers in the country doing action work.  I was his "go to guy" for
these type of issues.

I would start by thoroughly regulating the action and damper assembly
and removing all unnecessary friction.  If the touch were still too
heavy, I would check to see if lead weights were removed from the front
of the keys.  I would check the hammer weight.  Maybe the replacement
hammers are too heavy and weight can be removed by tapering them,
et cetera.

The bottom line is, the "right action spread" is the one that works
best overall.  If you increase that spread you gain more leverage and
a lighter touch, but now the jack may be jamming into the whippen stop
felt and you have no aftertouch.

I have a customer who has a 1925 Fischer Ampico grand with all original
action parts.  If you want to pay me to measure the "spread" I can do
that.

I would look at the capstan -- is it centered on the whippen cushion?
Sometimes, plugging and re-drilling the capstan holes further back on
the key is the best solution.  Poor shank or whippen match may be your
problem.  Sometimes you just need to buy all new parts.  Maybe a
smaller knuckle would work better than a bigger knuckle.  I would, on
occasion, cut the fronts of the balance rail punching in order to gain
more leverage for the key, hence a lighter touch.

Using good judgement is of the utmost importance because it [action
regulation] is _not_ an exact science.  We do our best.

Bill Maguire
Long Island, New York


(Message sent Thu 26 Mar 2015, 01:32:39 GMT, from time zone GMT-0400.)

Key Words in Subject:  Ampico, Fischer, Grand, Touch, Weight

Home    Archives    Calendar    Gallery    Store    Links    Info   


Enter text below to search the MMD Website with Google



CONTACT FORM: Click HERE to write to the editor, or to post a message about Mechanical Musical Instruments to the MMD

Unless otherwise noted, all opinions are those of the individual authors and may not represent those of the editors. Compilation copyright 1995-2024 by Jody Kravitz.

Please read our Republication Policy before copying information from or creating links to this web site.

Click HERE to contact the webmaster regarding problems with the website.

Please support publication of the MMD by donating online

Please Support Publication of the MMD with your Generous Donation

Pay via PayPal

No PayPal account required

                                     
Translate This Page