October Profile John Chapman RPT PitchLock Inc: TouchRail and String Couplers

October Profile John Chapman RPT

October 30, 2011 in Profiles

John Chapman, RPT is head technician at Wake Forest University in Winston Salem, NC. After a recent TouchRail installation there, he commented: “Every pianist who plays our university’s main concert instrument loves the extra control they have since we added the TouchRail.”

We are honored to welcome John as TouchRail Technical Representative at the upcoming Southeast Regional PTG Convention in Charlotte. Look for him in class and at the TouchRail exhibit booth.

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TouchRail Testimonials

"I just installed one on an older D and am very impressed with the results…I was able to even out the touch weight throughout the entire keyboard. Weighing is now evened at 51 grams. Quite remarkable."

Gerald Cousins, RPT West Chester University

"I played for hours yesterday and the day before which is something I was previously not able to do. [The piano] is just as responsive as ever, just easier to play."

Ralph Caccese, Delaware

"The touch is very much lighter, feels no less consistent than before and the piano is a delight to play... I can play much softer,,, [and] also for longer periods of time without getting fatigued "

Larry Lobel, RPT California

"The extreme evenness apparently accomplishes other positive by-products so that it is just so much more satisfying to play and get good results. I'm really excited about this thing!"

Lou Wallis, Pianist , Connecticut

"Not only can one feel the difference but when you see it too using the weights it is really an impressive invention. Considering the cost and time of changing the touch weight of an action up till now this is a huge time saver and a significant cost benefit to the customer."

Douglas Mahard, Piano technician, Connecticut

"A practical solution to decreasing downweight without inhibiting upweight specifications. ...Individual adjustment for each key produces extremely accurate results! My clients are thrilled! Particularly helpful with performance pianos. Pianists appreciate the flexibility of choosing their ideal keyweight. A wonderful and practical innovation that should be in the arsenal of all piano technicians."

Arlan Harris RPT,MPT New York City

"The TouchRail fit perfectly and works fine...It was very easy to install."

Tom Nelson, West Virgina

"Adding the TouchRail added a whole new and delightful range of dynamics on the p and pp side that was impossible to reach before. Light and soft playing is suddenly possible and easy."

Yoel Wilner, Republic of Panama

"The [Touch]Rail worked out perfectly. The spring tension allowed for adjustability on either side of the desired nominal settings."

Gary Fluke, Washington

"[We] are utterly amazed at the resulting touch on my Mason and Hamlin Ampico grand! Not only does the touch feel better in regular playing, but also the player rolls play crisper and brighter. The facility and repetition are wonderful, and I am anxious to show it to a prospective customer later this month."

Rand Reeves, RPT New York

"The latest install went very well. The improvement was more than I had expected."

Chris Dincher RPT, Robert M Sides Music Center Pennsylvania

"The ability to affect down weight more than up weight is like having your cake and eating it too!"

Mike Reese, RPT Alabama

"It worked great…. I was able to even out my down weight throughout the entire keyboard …. practical ,well designed, economical and simple to install. Thank you."

Ralph Cesaretti, New York

"[The TouchRail has] no increase of inertia,,, lightning-fast installation, no environmental risk, as well as a visual beauty and a great price!"

Michael Owens, RPT Pennsylvania

"[The TouchRail] put this action back to spec and evened out its inconsistencies.... Great product!"

Dave Hulbert, RPT , Wisconsin

"The piano is much nicer to play. The quality of the TouchRail is superb."

Randy Woltz, RPT California

"...The first thing I noticed right off was a significant improvement in control especially playing pianissimo. It was much more predictable and for that matter easier to play. I am really happy with the results."

Lawrence Dickenson, Ontario

"Just installed the TouchRail on the Mason here in NC. Really easy to do and feels great. Action needed some friction reduction and fine regulating but the Rail was the ticket."

Bill Huesman, RPT North Carolina

"The TouchRail installation went smoothly…I’ve noticed that the piano is being selected for performance more often."

Art Jones, RPT Settlement Music School

"There were many smiles and they said "it is so easy to play now"...The action was an impossible 70 grams,,,so the regulation helped get the friction out but the TouchRail is what really lowered the resistance. It's now at about 46 grams and even."

Ray Breakall, RPT, Virginia.

"Big Score! The owner of [the piano] will be writing a testimonial"

Lorlin Barber, RPT, Iowa

"Received, installed and beloved! [Fine touch weight reduction has always been a problem] and the TouchRail does it very well."

Radek Baran, Remenyi Music, Ontario

"The Installation on the Mason & Hamlin went well...intuitive and easy to follow."

Paul Rattigan, Massachusetts

I only had to play a few seconds to fall in love with this touch. It is fabulous,fabulous,fabulous!! I am blown away by the magnitude of the change. This was the icing on the cake. I love it!"

Ken Camper, Seattle, Washington

"I think the TouchRail was the perfect solution for this customer. It took a normal feeling action and made it lighter for her without permanently changing the action. I like it."

Brian Grindrod, New Hampshire

"TouchRail saved my sanity and my Steinway"

Bill Sbrega Piano teacher, Massachusetts

"The TouchRail works well in combination with Precision TouchDesign. I'll be recommending this to my installers as a High Performance Add On."

David Stanwood, RPT Stanwood Piano Innovations, Massachusetts

"[The installation] went very well. The touch weight fell into place right where I’d hoped it would. The customer loved it."

Steven James, RPT Wisconsin.

"The installation went fine. [My] customer was delighted to have a lighter touch at an affordable price."

Rob Atinello, New Jersey

"The owner noticed the difference right away... This is a well thought out product, from the shipping container to the instructions."

Danny Dover, RPT, Vermont

"The end results were great and the customer was very happy...[The TouchRail] did seem to really help this action."

Andy Lyford, RPT, Virginia

"I installed the TouchRail yesterday and my client is extremely happy...He played the third movement of the Appasionata and was beaming. He said he hasn't ever been able to play that on his piano without pain and frustration."

Jeannie Grassi, RPT, Washington

have completed my first installation and [my client] is very happy... When [she] sat down to play (and she plays very,very well!) she immediately commented on the lower touch weight, and as she played she became more aware of the eveness of the touch as well."

Taylor Mackinnon, RPT, Oregon

"Installation went great,,better than expected for my first go...I am looking forward to the next one."

Britain Wilson, California

"It helped alot with my heavy down weight. It works great!

Bill Yick, RPT ,Arkansas

“The customer was very pleased with the end results,,,I took off 10 grams and he was delighted.”

David Heidel, RPT Washington

"The down weight of our main concert instrument was too light and uneven. We re-leaded the keyboard to 55g down weight, and added the TouchRail so that in less than five minutes the down weight can be changed to 50g or 45g. The evenness and repetition were greatly improved, and pianists are delighted with the luxury of three down weight options".

John Chapman, RPT Wake Forest University, North Carolina

"They noticed the difference in the weight of the keys. The son plays classical and his hands don't get as tired now."

Rich Liptzin, New York

"The TouchRail got me to the proper down weight without adding or removing any lead weights…The customer couldn’t believe the difference in the piano."

Al Guecia, Allied PianoCraft, North Carolina

"I love it. Really, it is exceptional,,, the "magic machine". Now, I'm going downstairs to play!"

Bobbe Seibert, Anchorage Alaska

"Installation went fine …a definite improvement. Adding any amount of lead to the keys made for troublesome upweight. So the TouchRail REALLY helped…The design of the rail is simple and effective.”

Mark Bunker, RPT Minnesota

"I was very happy with the results I got with TouchRail. It totally matched my goals for that piano. I wouldn't hesitate to use it again and I will look for opportunities to tell my clients about it."

David Weiss, RPT Virginia

"TouchRail arrived safely. Now fitted and adjusted to 50 grams. I think the biggest improvement is the total eveness of touch achieved"

David Smith, United Kingdom

"He was very satisfied. Excellent quality product!"

Roy Berg, RPT, Minnesota

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