Regulating Quality You Can Hear   K E N   F O S T E R , RPT P I A N O   T U N I N G   S E R V I C E S w w w . K e n F o s t e r . c o m (801)255-TUNE Here is a partial list of some of the steps I go through in regulating a piano...  Many of these steps are repeated for each of the eighty-eight keys.  I usually have to budget a couple of days to complete one piano (10-20 hours).  I can budget four hours at a time, if you need your piano each day for teaching, practicing, or performing. With such a major investment in your instrument, great care should be taken in making sure your piano is working at its best.  Regulating should be done at least once every three to five years.  You will notice a wonderful change in the touch of the piano.  Your ability to play very soft and gentle will be possible, as well as aggressive and fast playing.  Your piano will work as good or even better than it did when it was brand new.  The sound quality will improve as well... when the action is regulated correctly, including all the center pins, key blow, let off, after touch, key drop, repetition lever, capstan, lost motion, and so on, all of the overtones of each string will be improved, along with a smooth precise feel of each key and its action.

GRAND PIANO REGULATING CHECK LIST . . . . . Copyright Ó2004 Ken Foster

1. TAKE KEY SLIP/KEY HEIGHT MEASUREMENTS
2. REMOVE ACTION
3. CLEAN PIANO
4. SAND, SWEEP & LUBE KEYBED
5. McLUBE SPRING & LEVER
6. TIGHTEN PLATE SCREWS
7. CHECK DAMPER & STOP RAIL  SCREWS
8. REMOVE STACK & KEY STRIP
9. REMOVE KEYS
10. BED KEYFRAME (100 – 150 grit)
11. REGULATE KEY FRAME GLIDES
12. REPLACE KEYS, STACK, KEY STRIP
13. TAKE STRING HEIGHT MEASUREMENTS
14. CLEAN ACTION
15. TIGHTEN ACTION SCREWS (Binding Screws)
16. RESHAPE HAMMERS
17. REMOVE STACK & KEY STRIP
18. MAKE NECESSARY ACTION REPAIRS
19. McLUBE CAPSTANS (polish)
20. REMOVE KEYS
21. SAND, SWEEP & LUBE KEYFRAME (Rails & Sides)
22. Polish/Lube Balance Rail Pin
23. Polish/Lube Front Rail Pin
24. BRUSH & LUBE KNUCKLES (Teflon)
25. REPLACE KEYS – CHECK AND EASE
26. Front Rail (minimal side play .03mm)
27. Balance Rail Bushing
28. Balance Rail Pin Hole (lift key 2-4mm)
29. Center Pins (screw would drop flange; 4 - 6 grams)  ~  Flange Regulations
30. REPLACE STACK
31. Travel the Hammers (gum paper tape shims)
32. Check & Adj. Hammer Spacing (heat gun)
33. Add Cloth, Center Hammer to Strings (check @ piano later)
34. LEVEL & SPACE STRINGS (check @ piano later)
35. POSSIBLY REMOVE STACK & USE KEY WEIGHTS
36. Level white Keys (1/8" below key slip - 1/16" below key button)
37. Manufacture measurements (64 –66mm from top of keybed)
38. LEVEL BLACK KEYS (12mm)
39. Square & Space Keys
40. Regulate Key Dip (3/8" – 7/16" block, 10mm – 11mm)
41. REPLACE STACK
42. Check Overall Alignment (Wippens to Hammers), shim & adj. if necessary
43. Repetition Lever/Rocker-Capstan/Jack-Knuckle
44. Check & Adjust Jack to Knuckle Position (back edge)  ~ Action Regulations
45. Check & Adjust Repetition Lever Height (.003", .1mm above Jack)
46. Regulate Hammer Height Line (1 ¾" - 44.5mm, to 1 7/8" - 47.6 mm from strings)
47. Regulate Hammer Rail (1/8" space)
48. AdjUST Let-Off (1/8" - 1/16"; 3mm – 1.5mm below string line; double core string wire)
49. CHECK BLACK KEY DEPTH (by feel)
50. Adjust Hammer Drop Stop Screw(1/8", 2-3mm from string line) ~ After Touch Regulations
51. Align Backchecks (to catcher) ~ Catching Regulations
52. Adjust Backcheck Distance/HEIGHT (5/8", 15mm -16mm from string)
53. ADJUST ANGLE OF BACKCHECKS
54. Regulate Repetition Spring Tension (hammer rise slow-medium-fast/not jump)
55. Regulate Height Key Stop Rail (1/8", 1-2mm above highest key)
56. REPLACE ACTION TO PIANO & ~ AT CLIENTS HOME
57. Add Cloth, CENTER Hammer to Strings
58. LEVEL & SPACE STRINGS
59. REMOVE CLOTH, CHECK ALL PREVIOUS REGULATIONS
60. REGULATE DAMPERS & PEDALS ~ Pedal Regulation
61. Damper Guide Bushing
62. Dampers to Keys (hammer ½ to strings – shim if necessary)
63. Damper Stop Rail (black keys no play – white keys a little play)
64. Dampers to Damper Lift Rail (lift at same moment)
65. Sustaining Pedal (Bass Sustaining) to Lift Rail (1/4" down before lifting – 1/16" lift rail)
66. Sostenuto Mechanism and Pedal (bend wire above damper lever, 1.5mm)
67. Hammer Lift Rail (if present)
68. Striking Point, (if adjustable)
69. Una Corda Pedal
70. Seat Strings @ Bridge (Possibly Dope Offending Strings/Pins) ~ Tuning/Voicing
71. RAISE OR LOWER PITCH (1^st TUNING)
72. TUNE TO A-440 (FINE TUNING)
73. VOICE AS NECESSARY
74. CHECK ALL PREVIOUS STEPS
75. REASSEMBLE PIANO

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I also take detail measurements of string height and thickness, key slip and key height.
I use this information to micro adjust many of the action parts to within 1/16" or less.

MEASUREMENTS

Key Slip Height (from keybed) _________

White Key Height _________

Black Key Height _________

String Thickness: Bass_________Middle_________High_________
 

String Height

Triple Wound Bass Key_________to_________

Double Wound Bass Key_________to_________

Tri-Chord Midrange Key_________to_________

Tri-Chord Treble Key_________to_________


 

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