KS 10: Bedding the Balancerail

KS 10: Bedding the Balancerail

Bedding the Balancerail:

There are three principal styles of grand keyframe balancerail - the stiff, Steinway/Mason & Hamlin style supported by adjustable glidebolts, the more flexible Asian style with glidebolts plus hidden glidebolts for action elevation, and an awkward alternative with no glidebolts. In all three cases, the balancerail fit can be affected by any of the previous steps being off, so first steps first.

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KS 9: Bedding the Frontrail

KS 9: Bedding the Frontrail

Bedding the Frontrail:

So far, we have a clean keybed, an action with shanks off rest cushions and no excessive friction, screws not loose and no deal-breaking need for repairs, action return spring out, glidebolts off keybed (except hidden, height-establishing glidebolts, if present), cheekblocks bedded, and backrail validated. If we are lucky, the action has not needed to come apart. And if everything was in good shape, we are maybe 15 minutes into this morning's work. A lot of if's, you might think, but most under-30 pianos probably fit this category. And many deserve regulating, even when new.

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