The era of lead use in keyboard instruments is rapidly coming to an end. Stricter regulations and environmental awareness are driving the search for alternatives. While several options have been introduced in recent years, they often come with a hefty price tag.

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Fortunately, there is an affordable and effective solution: a bismuth-tin alloy. This alloy can be used in the keys and damper mechanisms of both grand and upright pianos. The round bismuth/tin plugs can be processed in the same way as traditional lead plugs, making them an easy replacement.

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When replacing hammers, the keyboard is usually rebalanced entirely by adding or removing lead to achieve a down weight of 52, 50, and 48 grams across the keyboard from left to right. Since new hammers almost never weigh exactly the same as the removed ones, this often means adding or removing additional lead.

However, there is another approach. By adjusting the leverage ratio, you can compensate for the increase or decrease in strike weight (SW) without the need to add or remove weight from the front of the keys.

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I’ll explain exactly how this works during my seminar at the music fair in Nuremberg. Don’t miss it!