Pat DeWitt wrote in 050119 MMDigest:


>> I am having my 1928 Mason and Hamlin 5'8" (RA) Ampico A grand piano
>> restored ... hammers ... regulation ... key dip ...
>> Any and all advice will be gratefully received.


My advice is this:  Piano rebuilding and piano regulating are two sides
of one coin.  On an instrument capable of such finely nuanced playing
as yours, anything less than a perfect regulation will have a much
larger negative impact on the piano's musical expression than, for
example, the choice of hammers between Renner and Abel.

Regulation of a grand piano action to a high level involves far more
than the steps you describe.  In fact, regulation and voicing go hand
in hand to produce the many subtleties of tone color and dynamics.

From the questions you ask, it appears that you don't have the vast
amount of grand regulating/voicing experience needed to attain the
level of performance you expect from your instrument.

I suggest you find a qualified piano technician to do the whole job:
rebuilding, regulating and voicing.  Let him or her do their magic,
then sit back and enjoy your instrument performing at the peak of its
potential.

Jurgen Goering
Vancouver Island, B.C., Canada