Two Remedies to correct a light action

[John Delacour]

At 7:36 am -0800 1/12/06, Steve Blasyak wrote:

>... what are the quick easy ways to correct an action (upright), 
>that is too light.

The first thing to check is that the butt springs are doing their 
job.  The butt spring pressure significantly affects the touch 
weight.  If you strengthen the butt spring you increase the touch 
weight and if you strengthen it too much you increase the weight even 
more at the cost only of repetition.  Many players will not notice 
the difference in repetition, and this difference can be reduced by 
also stretching the jack spings slightly, which will further add to 
the sense of weight in the touch.  These changes are easily 
reversible and require no modification to the keys.

I have a client, a very competent professional player, who very much 
likes and wants to hire a small grand I have, but she wants the touch 
heavier in order to give her fingers more work.  I have no intention 
of removing or adding leads to the keys only to have to undo the work 
at the end of the hire, so I am fitting polyester cord loops under 
the keys just forward of the pilot boring and long phosphor bronze 
springs inserted into the front face of the backtouch rail will pull 
down on these loops to increase the touch weight.  Adding weight to 
the hammer assembly is no way to increase touch weight, since it not 
only affects the tone but also increases the work required from the 
repetition spring, which can break  as a result.

JD