regulating the action - whats reasonable?

G'day all,

I know I'm asking a kind of open-ended question, but I'll be happy with a 'from this much to this much' kind of answer. I know it's hard, sight unseen...

Here's the situation

Beale baby grand, base model [read: cheapest the restaurant could get], about three years old. It was regulated once, at about six months and hasn't been touched since.

The action feels sluggish and heavy, and is uneven [some notes louder than others], and also is very difficult to play quietly. Notes often don't sound at all when played lightly, and rapid restrikes often don't play as well. Some dampers don't damp properly, and some of the damper wires rest up against the strings, producing a jangling sound on certain notes.

*Roughly* how much would/should it cost to do it up, and how long would/should it take?

All thoughts/opinions/guesses appreciated

would/should it take?

Greetings, It is hard to say without looking at the piano. If it only needed adjustment, that's one thing. If it needed hammer shaping and repair, that is another. I would suppose that 10 hours would be enough for a working regulation on a piano like this. More if there is repinning or parts replacement involved.

Regards,

Ed Foote RPT http://www.uk-piano.org/edfoote/index.html Well-tempered CD's at Gasparo.com. GSCD #332, 'Beethoven In the Temperaments' GSCD #344 . 'Six Degrees of Tonality' Caution, these CD's contain pure intervals and extensive liner notes!

G'day Merlin,

It can be quite variable how much that piano will need. It may or may not need voicing, hammer reshaping, key dip adjustments, etc. It may have frictional problems that need addressing, either major or minor. It may or may not need key easing, action lube, etc. This would be in addition to the usual adjustments for repetition spring strength, strike distance, letoff and dip, plus a few other things.

I would estimate it could take anywhere from 1/2 day work to 1 1/2 days. So anything from the price of about 2 tunings to the price of about 6.

Many of the grands I service in venues where they are used regularly and professionally are getting hammer work and regulation touch ups a couple times a year, and are tuned anywhere from twice a month to once every two months. For the pianos played the most and the hardest, going 3 years between anything done to the action, I would expect to find a disaster inside.

And these are good pianos. I don't know what a Beale is- but from what you are saying it sounds cheap, so will most likely suffer more..

Regards,

Rick Clark