Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Piano Tuner-Technicians Forum Glide Bolts adjustment effects on Grands

Can anyone tell me adjusting the glide bolts can effect the tone and resonance of the piano? Does this influence the tone in any way. I know if the bolts are not set right it can throw the action out of regulation. What about the tone? Thanks!

The tone depends on good regulation. Glide bolt adjustments can change the key aftertouch, introduce knocking, and change power.

Yes thanks Bob for that. Those glide bolts are really quite a sensitive adjustment! My tech made an error during the set-up of my RX6 in the glide bolt adjustment and my aftertouch went out the window big time! The touch was stiff and lost its wonderful feel. He came over two days later and fixed it up thank God! I was so suprised that this was the problem, as he did lots and lots of regulation work in the action. The power/volume seems ok, and the aftertouch is perfect, as it was, but the tone of the piano has changed slightly - it is not as sonorous as it was. I am wondering why.

It's hard to say, without seeing the piano. Setting the glide bolts is done before any other adjustments on the action. Humidity changes can change regulation settings, including glide bolts, if the key frame or key bed swells/contracts.

Proper "bedding" of the keyaction frame to the keybed can be a complicated process and may entertain other processes than just glide bolt adjustment. The effect can be dramatic in the power of the instrument in proper form.

Thanks Bob. This sounds absolutely right. I had these issues with aftertouch. Also my piano is now lacking in sustain. I think it could have more power too. I will get my technician to check it all out in a month, as I am not sure if the last technician really optimized the pianos potential.

If the glide buttons are too high you will see the unplayed keys bounce when you play a chord. That could cause some loss of power.