Abstract: A support assembly in one embodiment of the present invention includes a support rotatable along a first surface with respect to a frame; a repetition lever rotatable with respect to the support; and an extension portion coupled to the repetition lever, the extension portion being slidable contact with a first guide portion, the first guide portion moving along the first surface.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are exemplary embodiments of methods, systems, and apparatus for improving pianos and like musical instruments. For example, in certain embodiments, the improvements are in the structures of the piano (or like musical instruments) that affect the vibratory relationships between the struck string and other segments of said string. The improvements affect how these vibratory relationships of the string segments interact with the bridge, soundboard, the plate of a piano, the string rests, and/or the string terminations. For example, in embodiments of the disclosed technology, the vibratory relationships of the string segments involve transient transverse (T) and longitudinal (L) frequencies as well as sustained transverse, longitudinal, and horizontal (H) modes carried by said string segments and their support structures. Embodiments of the disclosed technology also affect how these relationships are defined across the compass of the standard piano keyboard.

Abstract: A grand piano has action units for driving hammers to rotate toward strings, and each action unit is equipped with a repetition mechanism; the repetition mechanism has an elastic guide plate instead of a repetition lever and a repetition spring; and the elastic guide plate per se is deformed after contact with a drop screw, and returns to the initial position for permitting a pianist to play a music tune through repetition of key when the pianist releases the depressed key, whereby the action unit becomes simpler in structure than the conventional action unit.

Abstract: There is provided a repetition lever for a grand piano, which is excellent in shape retainability and dimensional stability and is light in weight and high in rigidity, thereby enabling required operations to be stably performed and improving the capability of repeated key striking. A repetition lever 4 for a grand piano, which performs the operation of pushing up a hammer 30 after the hammer has struck a string, is formed by a molded article of a thermoplastic resin containing long fibers for reinforcement, the molded article being molded by a long fiber process. The repetition lever 4 has reduced cross-sectional area portions 49, 50, and 54 for reducing weight thereof. The long fibers for reinforcement are carbon fibers, and the thermoplastic resin is an ABS resin.

Abstract: A plastic damper for attachment to a vibrating piano wire, the damper consisting of a single piece part having an end slot for turning by a screwdriver, and communicating peripheral slits for receiving the piano wire. One end of each peripheral slit has a slightly greater width than the rest of the slit, so that the piano wire can be inserted through this end of the slit, and locked against the damper by rotating it with a screwdriver, so that the relatively narrow major part of the slit "twist-locks" against the wire; the slight resiliency of the plastic facilitating the "twist-lock" action.