Regulation
Regulation is the mechanical servicing of a piano so that all action parts are properly aligned and functioning correctly. Periodic regulation will not only keep your piano playing smoothly and consistently, it will also help maintain a balanced and even tone. A variety of common regulation packages are detailed below.
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As pianos age, metal parts gradually tarnish and wood or felt may begin to swell; this can all lead to increased mechanical friction. Firstly, this may be noticeable as a general sluggishness or inconsistency of touch, but eventually it can lead to notes occasionally sticking or even seizing up altogether.
To counteract these problems and restore maximum responsiveness, a periodic service to reduce friction is recommended. This involves:
- Lubrication of all action centres
- Burnishing of front-rail pins, balance pins, and capstans
- Easing of key bushings and balance holes where appropriate
Allow approximately half a day
Over time, indentations are created in hammer-felt by repeated blows against the strings. The result is that hammer strike-points become both highly compressed and uneven in shape, causing an ever harsher and more distorted sound.
To correct these issues, the piano’s action is removed so that the tip of the hammers can be carefully filed back to a fresh and consistent surface (see photo-reel below). Then, once the deformed felt is removed, the hammers are finely matched to the strings with the action back in place. These two processes are known as Hammer Refacing & Mating, and can make a significant improvement for clarity and balance of tone.
Allow approximately half a day
Please Note: To maximise the final result, thirty minutes to an hour of voicing are often highly beneficial. Please visit the Voicing page for more information.
After years of playing, the various felts underneath the keys can become squashed, thereby altering the geometry of a piano’s action. This can present various problems including:
- Unevenness of touch when playing
- Visually uneven key heights
- Hammers striking strings multiple times from one key press
- Hammers blocking against strings when keys are fully depressed
- Wasted motion in the keys as they are first depressed
To restore the correct ratios of key height and movement, paper and card washers of various thicknesses are placed under the key felts. The piano action is then matched to the newly adjusted keys to ensure even and proper function.
Allow approximately half a day
Please Note: If the key felts have been damaged by moths or any other cause, then replacements may need to be ordered at additional cost.
To maximise the consistency and response of a piano action, a variety of fine regulation procedures can be carried out as appropriate. Such procedures include:
- Tightening and alignment of all action parts
- Set-off regulation
- Checking-distance regulation
- Repetition spring and lever regulation (grands only)
- Drop-distance regulation (grands only)
- Jack position (grands only)
- Pedal regulation
Time requirement will depend on work needed
Although the packages of work described above are generally recommended in their entirety, it can often be necessary to carry out certain smaller tasks on their own and these can be priced accordingly. Common examples include:
- Key Easing: Allow approximately 30 minutes
- Lubrication of Action Centres: Allow approximately 1 hour
- Removal of Lost Motion: Allow approximately 30 minutes
