adjusting the let-off

[noambenhamou]

Today me and my tech played with the let off. (we also made all the keys down-weight within 1 gram of eachother which took FOREVER)
For some reason I liked the let off pretty far from the strings. I think the norm is about 1/16 of an inch. I liked it better almost 1/2 a cm from the strings.

My tech disagreed but he is very great about knowing that it's whatever I like that matters.

I find that with a let off at 1/16 I have to press the keys all the way down to get a consistent ppp playing, especially when playing fast passages. While having the let-off farther, I can sort of "float" my hands on top of they keys without pressing down all the way and get very consistent ppp playing.

Does this make any sense mechanically, or am I just imagining things?

[iumonito]

That's just fine if you play a lot of really softly shaded stuff, but you pay for it on the other end, I think.  I suspect that such early release may make playing both significantly extended crescendos, and polyphonic textures (think of something like Brahms Variations on a theme by Handel) feel limited and without depth.

But, hey, if that's the way you like it, it will not hurt the piano and it is entirely reversible if you ever change your mind.

[lhorwinkle]

Let-off at 1/16" from the strings in NOT normal. No wonder you had problems.

But 1/2" is far too much. Reblitz states that it should be 1/8".

[richard black]

He said half a cm - 5mm, one-fifth of an inch (very close to 3/16).

[keys60]

I agree. 1/8 "  is the norm although some concert pianist go gradually a little less to the upper registers for more control. 1/16" is too little IMHO.

[john90]

I have been put off getting a silent system, because of the larger let off required. It is interesting that you liked a 5mm let off.

Does anyone know what the smallest safe let off is that works with a retro fitted silent system on a grand?

[withindale]

lhorwinkle: Let-off at 1/16" from the strings in NOT normal.

richard black: He [Reblitz] said half a cm - 5mm, one-fifth of an inch (very close to 3/16).

keys60: 1/8" is the norm although some concert pianist go gradually a little less to the upper registers for more control. 1/16" is too little IMHO.

What are the pros and cons of 1/16", 1/8" or more letoff for grands and uprights?

In the 1993 edition Reblitz says for grands, "The hammers should let off when their striking points are 1/16" [1.5mm.] below the bottom surface of the strings", and for uprights, "The hammer should move within 1/8" (or 3 mm.) of the strings".

By comparison, Kawai say for grands "In the bass section letoff should be 2.0mm - 2.5m [1/12" - 1/10"], middle and treble 1.0mm - 1.5mm [1/24" - 1/16"]", and for uprights, "Let-Off should be 2.0 mm [1/12"] in the treble, 2.5 mm [1/10"] in the middle, 3.0 mm [1/8"] in the bass."