Vertical piano regulation - let off

When using this technique, use a gentle depression of the key, and never to the bottom of the key. If you depress the key to the point of the key touching the front rail punchings, the catcher could touch the back check. That will cause the hammer shank to move. Don’t let that movement get confused with let off. Also, there must have sufficient key travel to move the jack to the point of let off.

[@rossmorrow3013]

I found that if you are dumping an old fridge, take the rubber seals off and you should be able to extract the door magnet which is approximately 1/8” and it will hold on to the strings to let you set the let-offs!

[@lucyurlacher9794]

That is a good idea. The more ideas the better. One thing nice about this technique is being able to vary the letoff distance. If a mute strip is used, the letoff needs to be more than 1/8. In pianos that have a tendency to hammer “bobble” I have hammers letoff slightly farther from the strings in order to have that slight bit more aftertouch. Thanks for your comment!

[@heavypiano]

I have read about this technique but it's really nice to see it visually.

[@upcyclepianocraft]

So good. Thank you, Lucy.

[@jaimegalaviz8349]

i love nice form, thanks

[@hellopsp180]

That’s really cool

[@saveriosalerno9232]

Thanks..very good👌✋👍🎹

[@lucyurlacher9794]

Thanks! Be sure to read what I wrote in the description.

[@herrsitar]

Ah, this is a timesaver. Thanks!

[@lucyurlacher9794]

It’s also so much better on our backs when we use this let off method. Glad you liked it.

[@dr.alvarosilva9268]

Hi Lucy! Greetings, you use other wooden measurements when you regulate the letoff. What would those measures be? Thank you very much!

[@davidfriel251]

Whats the measurement of the wooden board you are using.

[@nanyiqiang79]

Does this gauge also can be used in grand piano action? Also where can I get it?

[@fredfred2363]

Great video. Thanks. How do you know what your piano's let off 'gap' should be? Each design is different. Or if never altered from new, should you simply use the smallest measured gap? Which on all pianos I've seen is between 1/4" (6mm) and 3/8 (10mm). 1/8 (3mm) is a small let off. 👍🏻😀🇬🇧

[@lucyurlacher9794]

I’ve used 1/8” let off very successfully. Maybe 3/16”, but never 1/4 and larger.

[@user-gb8cu9by5n]

​@@lucyurlacher97942mm

[@Hammondbrass]

Great video! What’s the dimensions of that board?

[@lucyurlacher9794]

I have 2 boards: one is 13 3/4 long, the other is 16 1/2 inches long. Most of the pianos I regulate are Yamaha’s 16 1/2 is the length of the bass and treble, 13 3/4 the middle section. It would be possible to have a shorter board and set another sample in the middle, but it is more efficient to have one board for a section. The width is 29mm, a measurement I use to set damper lift. I’ll make a video of that process soon.

[@marybrocious]

Thanks for the video! I wondered... if I've done these steps (along with key height and dip, etc.), and I have some bobbling hammers, what do I need to adjust? I have the let off set to 1/8 inch. I don't know what I'm missing. Any suggestions? Thanks!

[@christianwouters6764]

Correct key depth is as important as let off point. I don't use the tool in the video, just paste temporarily a 2 mm thick cardboard strip on the strings so I have my two hands free. I worked for years for the Yamaha company and we followed rigorously a 24 step procedure of upright action regulation to eliminate every possible malfunction. The textbook Basic Piano Technology is unfortunately not commercially available and is guarded as a sort of company secret.

[@marybrocious]

@@christianwouters6764 Thanks!

[@jamato2004]

Youare crazy with that mask, why, no one there.....

[@kristopherdetar4346]

We miss your face Lucy, please remove your mask.

[@lucyurlacher9794]

But it’s a very good looking mask.

[@kristopherdetar4346]

@@lucyurlacher9794 your smile is priceless. Time to toss the masks................

[@lucyurlacher9794]

Do you know this regulation technique? The regulation procedure is what is important.

[@kristopherdetar4346]

@@lucyurlacher9794 of course not. That is why I am watching you. Very cool technique Mr. Spurlock came up with. His retirement is too soon.

[@alessandrolucindo9025]

What’s the size of this piece of wood that you used to approximate the hammer to the string?

[@jismo7]

Why are you wearing a mask?!!! 😔

[@johnwilson-mr6pw]

I took one look at the stupid mask she was wearing even though alone and.................

[@lucyurlacher9794]

You looked at my mask and didn’t like the regulation technique? How does that make sense? If I was alone, who was doing the video? There’s some logic!

[@tjplusproductions]

Lucy, seriously. Obviously you're afraid and bought into the mask bs. They don't do squat save make you look muzzled, which actually, you are. Interesting that throughout the last 3 yrs business has grown.

[@31PianoGal]

There's nobody around so take that silly mask off.