Bedding the Cheekblocks:

What are the functions of a cheekblock? In a Steinway grand, a cheekblock provides three important services: positioning the action in-and-out for tone, side-to-side for soft-pedal shifting, and up-and-down to complete the crowned frontrail bedding. Arguably, there is a fourth function: securing action to keybed for when the piano goes on its side. And, of course, there are the casepart functions to hold and stop the fallboard. In any case, the guiding and holddown functions conflict, with downward pressure on pins that must slide freely and silently side-to-side.

How Flat is the Keybed?

At the piano, with its action out and keybed clean, apply the flat side of your straightedge to the keybed's front, balance, and back rails for a sense of what you have. Also, check front-to-back at either side and in the middle. This quick gathering of information can serve you well as you try to get your bedding samples to work on the bench, having noted:

1. a crowned front rail,
2. a routed middle area,
3. an odd shape somewhere, or
4. none of the above.