stringed instrument lacquer

[David ilvedson]

That wasn't about tone that was about "cutting" through the 
mix.  I did work for "Pablo Cruise" and took their C7 and 
thoroughly soaked the hammers in lacquer/thinner.  These 
were rocks.  The pianist, Cory Lerios, said it was better but 
could be brighter.  I offered aluminum hammers but then 
couldn't find a maker.

David I.

From:           	"Richard Moody" <remoody@easnet.net>
To:             	<caut@ptg.org>
Subject:        	Re: stringed instrument lacquer
Date sent:      	Sat, 11 Dec 1999 00:47:12 -0600
Send reply to:  	caut@ptg.org

> 
> 
> 
> Still, that certainly does not mean that one cannot get good results.  I 
> remember seeing some instruments years ago in a city which shall remain 
> nameless that had had their hammer hardening done by a solution of plain 
> white sugar and water.  It worked...sort of.  Produced rather a sweet 
> sound.  (Sorry - bad joke.  It's still early, and I haven't had my morning
> 
> coffee yet.)
> 
> Best.
> 
> Horace
> 
> 
> Well I hope you use plenty of sugar.   If there were a Grammy for the best
> sounding piano with "doped" hammers it would have to go to the piano used
> in the song from " Grease" freaturing Olivia Newton John,  with the words
> "you are the one  that I want" or something like that, or maybe that is
> the title.  
> 	That sound reminded me of  a rock group I tuned for (once) (Pablo Cruise)
> that had a super bright  Yamaha C1 or C2.   I asked the road manager if
> they wanted it voiced.   He said, "hell no"  I took to mean he knew what
> voicing was.  I asked him how the hammers got so bright. 
> He said he soaked them with Elmers glue the last time they were voiced
> because the keyboard player complained that they sounded too soft.  
>    So between sugar and Elmers I guess we have a happy medium.  I would
> like think the sugar would give that sparkling sound I heard in that piano
> backing up Olivia NJ.  ---ric
> 
> 


David Ilvedson, RPT
Pacifica, CA
ilvey@jps.net