[CAUT] How much voicing on new NY hammers/ Re-visited

[Paul T Williams]

I'm learning this a bit too late, but good advice.  Soak the darn things 
on first lacquering.  I thought they were supposed to do this in the 
factory. Not enough, I guess.  I'll try some more shaping as they're is 
little more I can do....

Paul




From:
"Paul Milesi, RPT" <paul at pmpiano.com>
To:
PTG CAUT List <caut at ptg.org>
Date:
01/14/2011 02:23 PM
Subject:
Re: [CAUT] How much voicing on new NY hammers/ Re-visited



I, too, have just installed a set of pre-hung Steinway h/s/f on a D from 
1970.  Same tonal issues.  I’m told the trick is to get the lacquer to the 
core...you’ve really gotta soak ‘em, don’t be afraid, and it’s best if you 
can do it on the first pass.

I’m wondering if those of you using these hammers did any filing/shaping? 
I’m probably going to try that, thinking it will bring up the tone.  I 
think I’ll be sure to emphasize the diamond shape, ala Oorebeek.

Thoughts/suggestions?
-- 
Paul Milesi, RPT
Staff Piano Technician
Howard University Department of Music
Washington, DC
(202) 806-4565 Shop/Office
(202) 246-3136 Cell


From: Paul T Williams <pwilliams4 at unlnotes.unl.edu>
Reply-To: <caut at ptg.org>
Date: Fri, 14 Jan 2011 11:14:15 -0600
To: <caut at ptg.org>
Subject: Re: [CAUT] How much voicing on new NY hammers/ Re-visited

Hi Kent and all, 

I quite discouraged with the set of factory hammers for one of our D's we 
discussed a couple months ago.  I've had to juice them several times all 
over.  I still don't like the tenor and killer octaves all the way up to 
C-7.  They're hung nice and straight, but for fun, I moved the action in 
and out a small amount (like2-4mm) to see if the killer area was going to 
need altering in the strike point.  Not much happened, so they stay where 
they are. 

Of course, they haven't had a lot of playing in yet.  I get so-so fff and 
the ppp is pretty good.  I don't like much of anything inbetween except 
the middle 2 octaves and bass.  It's just weak sounding. String mating is 
good and regulation is great, so it's either that these aren't a great set 
of hammers, or the soundboard has some issues (this piano is from the 80's 
or early 90's)  It was a C&A piano, so it's got a different serial number, 
but that's what Richard West says, and since he was here, that's what it 
is... 

I might consider trying some Hamburg hammers sometime, but I'll really 
have to think long and hard about getting another NY set. 

What about y'all? 

Paul 



From: Kent Swafford <kswafford at gmail.com> 
To: caut at ptg.org 
Date: 10/13/2010 05:27 PM 
Subject: Re: [CAUT] How much voicing on new NY hammers 



I have found no consistent answer to your question. The last set of D 
hammers I put on needed to be juiced up a bit in the top two sections and 
was then ready to go; the set before that has been juiced twice throughout 
and is not yet bright enough; the one before that was OK in the tenor but 
needed to be juiced everywhere else. 

Hanging these is like spinning the wheel of fortune. I'd be interested in 
knowing where yours land. 

Kent 


On Oct 13, 2010, at 4:17 PM, Paul T Williams wrote: 

Hi all 

Quick question;  how much voicing is typically needed on the new NY 
hammers for our D?  I have a very small window to put a set on our D in 
the main hall.  They're pre-hung and I have them here in the shop.  The 
project starts tomorrow. 

Thanks 
Paul 





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