Regulating the Piano
Regulation is adjusting the action so that the piano feels and responds well.
Sometimes, especially on older pianos, a minimal regulation can turn a clunker into a satisfying musical instrument.
But Isn’t Regulation Hard to Learn?
Well, depends on what you want to do. Like I said about older pianos, a minimal regulation, that is easy to learn, can make a huge difference.
However, don’t expect to be doing any concert grand regulations anytime soon!
Aren’t the Tools Expensive?
They can be, but if you look around, you can get some used.
Also, I have a lot of tools that I have designed and modified that do a good job but are much less expensive.
For a list, go to http://mrtuner.com/basicpianorepairtools.htm
In these courses, you will learn:
- Modified Reblitz Regulation Steps
Piano Servicing by Arthur Reblitz is a great book that has a lot of descriptions, but the regulations steps are more for someone regulating a new piano.
This PDF describes what things you may need to do differently if you are regulating an older worn piano. - The Regulation Triangle
Aftertouch is an adjustment that we do not adjust directly. Trying to get it right can be a mystery. However, we need to get it right because without proper aftertouch, the piano will not feel right to play.
The Regulation Triangle is a method that allows technicians to easily see how the three triangle settings of regulation – Blow, Let Off, and Dip – affect aftertouch, and how to easily set these three adjustments so that the aftertouch is the best for any piano, upright or grand. - Regulation and Repair Class Recordings
For over a year I gave a weekly online class on everything about piano repair and regulation that I have ever learned, and I recorded every class.
Now all these classes have been edited down to the essential information and you can watch them all*. Each class has a quiz at the end for you to take. If you finish all the quizzes with a passing mark you will be certified as a Piano Technician (PT) with the International Piano Technicians School, IPTS.
*We are still editing and uploading all the videos. There are about 60.
Cost and How to Access These Courses
Modified Reblitz Regulation Steps
This will take you to the FREE Modified Reblitz Regulation Steps that will help you use these descriptions in the book: Piano Servicing, Tuning, and Rebuilding: For the Professional, the Student, and the Hobbyist, to easily do a basic regulation of a piano instead of a complete regulation needed when a piano is completely rebuilt, which is what the regulation steps in the Rebitz book describe.
The Regulation Triangle
This will take you to the Regulation Triangle introduction where you can learn more about regulation in general and learn the specific and easy to follow Regulation Triangle Method.
Regulation and Repair Recorded Class Videos
Watch all these recorded and edited classes. They will take you through every aspect of regulation and repair that I have learned over my long career as a professional piano technicians. Complete with videos, animations, and high resoltuion photos, this live online course kept going until I had completely exhausted every ounce of knowledge I had in my brain and had passed on to the students enrolled. Now you can get that brain dump as well!