Regulating
 

K E N   F O S T E R
P I A N O   T U N I N G   S E R V I C E S
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(801)553-1541

Here are 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 (1st TUNING)
        72. TUNE TO A-440 (FINE TUNING)
        73. VOICE AS NECESSARY
        74. CHECK ALL PREVIOUS STEPS
        75. REASSEMBLE PIANO
        *************************************************************************************************************************
        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_________

        Ken Foster
        PIANO SERVICES
        Tuning*Regulation*Repair
        www.KenFoster.com
        (801)553-1541
        Ken@KenFoster.com
         

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