How do you regulate the action on a piano?

How do you regulate the action on a piano?

Some of the adjustments that are made during regulation include shaping the hammers to eliminate the grooves and restore a proper strike point, key leveling, string leveling, mating the hammers to the strings, setting the distance from the strings to the hammers, adjusting how much the keys “dip” when depressed.

What is an Overdamped piano?

Overdamping is a system whereby the piano damping mechanism (the bit that shuts the piano up) is situated above the hammer strike line. Underdamping is where the piano dampers are placed below the hammer strike line.

Can you change the action on a piano?

Many pianists believe a piano’s action or tone can’t be changed, or that the performance quality of a piano or action is determined solely by its brand. But any piano’s action can go out of regulation, become dirty and worn, suffer from neglect, or merely vary within a normal range — top-rated brands are no exceptions.

Does my piano need regulation?

All upright and grand pianos need periodic regulation to perform their best. Frequency of regulation is dependent upon amount of use, exposure to climatic changes, and the instrument’s quality, age and condition.

How much does it cost to regulate a piano?

This may vary substantially depending on the region, the technician, and the condition of the piano. A ballpark cost for regulation is around $500, give or take a few hundred. A piano that is in perfect condition may be a little less, while one that is in truly poor condition or is just very old may cost a lot more.

What is the difference between straight strung and Overstrung piano?

In a straight-strung frame, all the strings are strung parallel and are vertically (or obliquely) positioned, whereas in the overstrung frame the bass strings are strung over the middle section in an “X” style.

What does over damper mean?

over damping: the condition in which damping of an oscillator causes it to return to equilibrium without oscillating; oscillator moves more slowly toward equilibrium than in the critically damped system.

How often do pianos need tuning?

once a year
Pianos need regular tuning at least once a year to keep them up to pitch and playing the correct notes. In particular, piano strings stretch a great deal during the first year after purchase, and the piano should be tuned twice during this one-year period.

How long does it take to regulate a piano?

How long does it take to regulate a piano? Anywhere between an hour to two days, depending on the condition of the piano; this is best assessed by our piano technicians.

Is an Overstrung piano good?

The advantage of the overstrung is that the bass strings can be as long as possible. Generally, a longer string will give a better quality of sound so the bass of an overstrung is usually richer and more resonant than a straight strung of similar size and age.

What are the benefits of piano action regulation?

This maintenance process can result in several benefits to the pianist, and the piano. Piano action regulation (1) eliminates “lost motion” when a piano key is pressed. Parts become compressed and worn down with use, every time a pianist plays the keys.

Comparable to a smooth running car, piano action regulation maintains your piano’s moving parts at their best. Most upright pianos can be regulated in as little as a few hours, or longer, whereas grand pianos can require up to 6 to 10 hours to regulate, or longer.

What are the different types of piano action?

The first variety we will look at is the “over-damped” arrangement. The most obvious characteristic of an over-damped piano action (sometimes referred to as a “bird cage action”) is that the dampers sit above the hammers. The second variety is the “under-damped” arrangement. The dampers in an under-damped piano sit below the hammers.