Welcome back!
This post is Part 1 of a 3-part series looking at the how a grand piano works. The videos, titled “Pianoworks- The Series”, were produced for a Michigan Petrof piano dealer named PianoWorks and were provided to us by polarbear60. (According to polarbear60, this dealer is no longer in business. The web link at the end of the video is no good.) The explanations are similar to what I would have given to a customer back in my piano technician days and are far superior to what could be accomplished with 2-dimensional schematics.
A few comments:
- As stated, in a grand piano action there are about 100 parts and 30 adjustments per key. With 88 notes, do the math and you will see how much work a regulating technician has to do to adjust the entire action.
- Felts and leathers, as well as the wool and cardboard punchings used to regulate key height and dip, wear and compact with use and weather changes over life of piano. They can also be devastated by rodents and insects.
- Contrary to statements in the video, key weight would usually be adjusted with the action in a regulating rack outside of the piano.
- The device usually used for measuring key dip (how far down the front of the key goes when depressed) is a wedge that sits on top of the key and is level with the adjacent key when the dip is correct).
Upcoming episodes will go into more detail on various aspects of the grand piano. Part 2 will look at hammers, dampers, pedals and key bushings. Part 3 will actually take the action and keyframe out of the piano and give you an up-close look. Stay tuned!!
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