Grand Regulation - part XX

Step 35 - The Aftertouch (continued)

We left off last week with how to set the aftertouch on the natural keys, and some of the problems which occur when trying to set the dip with a key dip block. I just want to emphasize how much I dislike using a key dip block. As stated before, when beginning to regulate, only one measurement is needed, either the blow distance or the key dip. Remember the ‘Dip and Blow Priority’ discussion? The arguments are clearly in favour of using the Blow Priority method where possible. I find it no problem when finished regulating to alter the action to give it a little more power or a little faster repetition to suit the artist. All of this can be performed without a key dip block!

Now that the natural aftertouch has been established, virtually a repeat is done to regulate the sharp aftertouch. Taking a section at a time, watch the amount that the hammer rises after drop and add or subtract punchings so that the sharps have the same amount of hammer rise as the naturals. Greater care must be exercised when raising a sharp to avoid elongating the centre hole in the key. Double check the evenness of the sharps in the down position by depressing a group of them and comparing their heights to the neighbouring naturals. Correct the offending key height, blow, let-off, drop, or jack alignment and reset the aftertouch. Continue to the next section until all 88 keys have been completed. Now turn all of the paper punchings under the felt punchings, preferably keeping the large cardboard at the bottom and the thinnest paper at the top.

Regulating the sharps in this manner eliminates all of the mess and confusion of how to set the sharp key dip...

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Grand Regulation – part XIX

35) The Aftertouch (continued)

The aftertouch is purposely regulated late in section IV, “The Touch,” because so many other steps affect it. In fact, I often do the backchecks and repetition springs before regulating the aftertouch (sometimes this is a must if the springs were weak), making the dip the last of the nine essential steps in grand regulation. Regulating the dip after the backchecks may throw the backchecking distance off, so some minor touch-up may be necessary here. The amount that the key goes down in the front directly affects the amount that the key goes up at the back, thereby changing the height at which the backchecks catch the hammer tails.

Make sure that the key height and blow distances are very even, as just a little mistake in either will show up in too much or not enough aftertouch. The action should have been played upon and “settled in.” This is especially true, if the keyframe has been refelted. If nothing else, give the piano a good tuning, making sure to “pound the notes in.” After playing, recheck the key height, using both a straight-edge as well as eyesight, even looking at the keys from different angles. Likewise for the hammer line. All corrections should be made before starting to regulate the aftertouch.

The action must be in the piano, as it is impossible to work with such close tolerances with the keyframe away from the keybed...

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Grand Regulation - part XVIII

35) The Aftertouch

Apparently not everyone understood what I wanted to communicate about regulating by the dip or blow priority methods. Whether a technician chooses one method or the other, the results will be the same. Some piano technicians get the impression that depending upon whether the dip priority or the blow priority was used, the regulation would come out different. This is not the case. When regulating by the dip priority method, the technician must regulate completely a few sample keys to prove out by aftertouch that the distances for the dip and blow will work. Likewise when regulating by blow priority method. I have stated in the past why I like to use the blow priority method. These reasons will be restated, along with some new ones concerning the use of a key dip block.

Referring back to the grand regulation chart printed in the After Touch post, only two steps affect the blow distance while five steps affect the dip. Of these steps, the key height affects both the dip and the blow. Regulating the key height was step no12 in the 50-point checklist, so it should not interfere when getting to section IV The Touch at step no31. This leaves only the jack height to affect the blow distance, while four steps still affect the dip. These four are the blow, jack alignment, let-off, and the drop. Remember that I always include the correct aftertouch measurement when discussing the dip.

What we want as the end result is...

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