KS 3: Shape of the Keybed
Shape of the Keybed: Bedding is the foundation of a grand regulation and piano manufacturers put a lot of effort into providing a flat, stable surface on which to construct this...
Christopher Brown |
Chris Brown RPT
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KS 2: Concerning Dags and the Return Spring
Concerning Dags and the Return Spring: First, consider the dag at the back of the keybed (pronounced dog, as in bench dog, thank you David Hughes). Blue painter's tape (useful for...
Christopher Brown |
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KS 1: New Offering in the Offing
A New Offering in the Offing: The Key Steps for Grand Regulating Slideshow plots an effective approach to grand regulation. With this photographic outline for context and continuity, please join me weekly for a short...
Christopher Brown |
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Weighing Off the Grand Action - Part 10
When enthusiasm for a piano rises in the concert pianist, it is a wonderful thing. Their spirit soars, their talents fully manifest, and the listener gets emotional. What can stir...
Christopher Brown |
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Weighing Off the Grand Action - Part 9
Plan by Number? The Grandwork System favors trial-and-error and go-nogo procedures over formulas and numbered measurements. In general, numbers and math empower designers and manufacturers but slow down piano technicians. So, why feature numbers in...
Christopher Brown |
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WEIGHING OFF THE GRAND ACTION – Part 8
The mechanics of a grand action are brilliant, a series of levers that reaches inside the piano while converting finger force into a hammer force that can play strings with...
Christopher Brown |
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WEIGHING OFF THE GRAND ACTION – Part 7
How do we become professionally conversant with the things we think we know? Experience will prove or disprove many details over time but without a concerted effort (and a bunch...
Christopher Brown |
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WEIGHING OFF THE GRAND ACTION - Part 6
Levers: Hammer weights and travel parameters get amplified or de-emphasized depending on the geometry between keytop and hammer crown. Generally, weight reduction at the key equals loss of hammer rise,...
Christopher Brown |
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WEIGHING OFF THE GRAND ACTION - Part 5
How much can weighoff help grand action playability? Sometimes, as with poor action geometry, weighoff will not help unless problems are corrected first. I recently I found myself so challenged...
Christopher Brown |
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WEIGHING OFF THE GRAND ACTION - Part 4
Pragmatics: We weighoff a key to help its note function properly. With good geometry, good regulation, and appropriate friction in place, key balancing fine tunes how well a note will...
Christopher Brown |
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A Baldwin R Tells Me What to Do
Last week I regulated a Baldwin R baby grand, vintage 1950, which featured five interesting points in an apparently standard-issue regulation. 1. Hidden studs, including the two outside ones –...
Christopher Brown |
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WEIGHING OFF THE GRAND ACTION – Part 3
Method and Style: I recommend the pick-and-add method of weighoff. Key balancing weights are used in pairs, upweight on the bottom, pairing weight on top. Add a pair (downweight) to...
Christopher Brown |
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WEIGHING OFF THE GRAND ACTION – Part 2
My Strategy I only weigh off well-regulated actions. The objectives of weighoff are balance and consistency and erratic or inappropriate elements in regulation, including those of friction, inertia, and geometry,...
Christopher Brown |
