Duo-Art Plays Too Loud
By Craig Brougher
A few months ago, Pete Knobloch had a Duo-Art problem which we thought may have been an expression box adjustment. He shipped me that box and I took a look at it, regulated it, and sent it back. However, the degree it was "off" would not explain the way the piano was playing. I know that Pete was at the time looking for another job and hasn't gotten back to me about it as yet.
However, in the meantime, I ran across another similar problem from a collector in Dallas. He complained to me that his Steinway was also playing too loud. He had enough time to spend over the phone and so we troubleshot the problem right there. It was then I traced it to the note cutout block above the keybed.
What was happening is this: on each side of the note cutout block are four pouch cutouts, all covered with a common piece of pouch leather. If that leather isn't glued properly, air will "channel" between two or more pouches on either or both sides, and it can seem to be intermittent. Sometimes, the piano just plays too loud, and sometimes it's about right. It doesn't take much of a leak either. You may not be able to find it just by looking at it, and it can be a most confusing symptom. But if you suspect the note cutout block, temporarily tube around it and see if that solves the problem. Remember also that there is a modifying switch connected to (usually) the #8 int. which can also be leaking. Bypass this, too.
Craig Brougher
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(Message sent Mon 23 Dec 1996, 16:44:44 GMT, from time zone GMT.) |
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