I keep running into spinet pianos with key dip issues, usually dip is too deep, 1/2 inch or more. Deep key dip can be frustrating to kids, as they try to play finger exercises and scales. Frustrated kids don't practice as much, and end up quitting. A piano not played doesn't get tuned. I lose tunings, and the teacher loses a student. So......

I'm pointing out key dip issues as I see them - I saw two yesterday, a Wurlie spinet and Acro Spinet, both 1/2" dip. The Wurli is being played by 11 year old boy, just learning. It's important I fix this one. The Acro isn't played much, and is owned by a senior lady - but it will get handed down one day to someone who's kid will play it. Better fix this one as well.

I reduced dip on a Wurlie spinet today from 1/2" to 10mm, and it played much better. That job was sold last November. I had room to drop the balance rail, so it was mostly a global adjustment on the rail, and capstan adjustment on the keys. It took about 1 1/4 hours, so it wasn't expensive for the customer, but made a huge difference in ease of play. She is an adult re-learner, who played as a child and is trying to re-learn.

So, keep that key dip block handy. Maybe teachers should have one too!

Do you think it is all of Florida's humidity that is causing the 1/2" key dip? I generally tend to see less than enough key dip around these freezing cold parts.

The biggest problem I see with old spinets is too much lost motion, and the keys do not have enough dip, because they are weighted down at front. That is a difficult adjustment on many spinets, like today's Wurlitzer, but on others I may fix it without comment.

Another problem I see with small pianos is that the damper springs are too strong and the timing is early. As lost motion is taken out over the years, the damper to key timing gets earlier and earlier. A short damper lever with a strong spring that lifts at the beginning of the key stroke leads to a unpleasant springy touch.

I have found that in many of these small pianos the spoons can be adjusted by reaching a hand under the action and pushing on the back of the damper lever with a finger while depressing the key with the other hand. That combined with weakening the springs a little can really transform the touch of some of these instruments in short order.

Yea, that damper timing really helps. Around here (in the frozen North) the key dip seems to be perennially too shallow causing bobbling hammers.

Yes, that's interesting, David. Come to think of it, I had many more shallow dip issues up north than I do now in the south.

It must be that the centrifugal force of the Earth's rotation is greater as you get nearer to the equator and it's making the key dip deeper!

Ha ha! Or it could be all these 80 degree February days!