voicing Steinway L

[Wimblees@aol.com]

In a message dated 98-02-03 09:33:44 EST, you write:

>I recently reshaped hammers, regulated and voiced a 10 year old L for a
>good customer.  This lady has a great ear.  After reshaping back to the
>Steinway shape, regulating, string voicing and voicing the hammers, she
>wanted it voiced down a bit more, especially in the lower treble.  I did. 
>Not enough.  Not enough, etc.  Finally I have arrived, but she finds the C
>and B too soft now- not much sustain/volume-I agree. (I had been needling
>1/8 inch deep mostly around 2 and 11 o'clock with some SHALLOW salt and
>pepper needling on the strike point) I shine the surface with 220 grit and
>hit the strike point firmly with the back of my Yamaha voicing tool, but it
>is not enough.  I offered to iron them, but explained that it would mostly
>make the attack brighter, but not the whole voice of the hammer louder.  I
>told her I would need to apply a little acetone/keytop to the low shoulders
>for more volume.  She's too scared (heard horror stories about hardener)
>for me to do this and wants to play it as is and maybe we'll do something
>later.
>Question: Am I going in the right direction?  I only need to make two
>hammers louder to match others around them.  I may use responses to assure
>her.  Thanks!
>Lance Lafargue, RPT


Lance:

Sometimes, a customer will psych herself right into wanting too much, without
really understanding, or knowing what she wants. I would suggest that you
exhange a couple of hammers, and see if she notices. Exchange the C and C# and
the B and Bb, and see if she can tell a difference. 

Willem Blees RPT
St. Louis