Regulation

What is "regulation"?
Regulation is a term that is used to refer to the intricate adjustments to the action of a piano (the part between the keys and the strings that makes the piano work) to make it play and feel the way it should.  There are an average of over 9,000 parts in a piano,  regulating all the minute intricacies make the piano perform in the best way it can.  Pianos need to be regulated in order to keep them in good working condition (just like tuning!).  Over time, the wood, felt, and buckskin in the piano settles and compresses.  Regulation re-adjusts these parts so the piano will perform optimally.  Often times a pianist will say, "my piano doesn't feel right" or "when I push the keys I lose power" or "this piano is difficult to play quietly on".  These are all most likely regulation issues, and can be solved by having the technician regulate your piano.  I once heard another technician say, "If tuning is like changing the oil in your automobile, consider regulation the 60,000 mile check up.".

What sort of things are regulated in a piano?
All kinds of things!  Below is a link to the technical drawings of the inside of one note of a piano action.  Nearly everything that you see can be adjusted up or down, in or out, etc. by twisting small screws, adding and removing thin paper punchings, and slightly bending metal parts.  Here's a list of  just a few things that can be regulated in a piano:

- Key height
- Key spacing
- Key level
- Key dip
- Hammer blow distance
- Hammer drop
- Repetition spring tension
- Repetition lever height
- Removal of/setting of lost motion
- Jack postion
- Let-off
- Backcheck distance
- Damper lift
- Damper timing
- String spacing and leveling
- Sustain, Soft, & Sostenuto pedal timing and lost motion
- Bridle straps (verticals only)
- Hammer voicing
- Hammer shaping
- Touchweight
     ...and much more Grand piano action Vertical piano action