Terry, Before you get too far into trying to figure the missing link, don't look any further than the hammers. The hammers on those pianos through those years were a waste. There is no sustenance to drive any amount of tone. Do these have the pretty green shoulder felt? I can assure you if can talk them into replacing the hammers with a good quality hammer ( Abel or IssacI) you'll be amazed what can happen. I did a BB a couple of years ago with the same situation. Ended up voicing the hammers way on the mellow sound but what a huge sound I ended up with. Nice dynamic range. But when I look back at those early years trying to salvage parts for the sake of salvaging bad parts, I didn't do anyone any service. Good Luck Tom Servinsky,RPT ----- Original Message ----- From: "Farrell" <mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com> To: <pianotech@ptg.org> Sent: Wednesday, October 24, 2001 9:13 PM Subject: Voicing M&H BB > Hello Listees. I tuned a 1979 Mason & Hamlin BB (Hand Crafted by American > Craftmen) today at a small low (like, really low) budget recording studio. > The young fellow (very enthusiastic) there was very interested in improving > his prized piano. The voicing is horrible. His general comments were that > the bass is excellent and the rest of the piano is too "dark", and "it > doesn't sound like a Yamaha - will replacing the strings make it > brighter?" - he wants it brighter. My observations were that the bass is > very bright and brassy and loud and powerful. That drops right off with the > lowest tenor note - very mellow and quiet - as is the rest of the piano - > except for occassional tinny-bright notes in tenor and treble. The piano is > in average shape over-all - it was in a church prior to this guy buying it 4 > years ago (for $4,800). > > Anyway, to please this guy, the task is to brighten up all the plain wire > sections in general, even out the few odd balls, and do something with the > bass tenor break - it's worse than most spinets (is this common on this > piano?). It has the little green hammers that M&H (Aeolian) used back in the > 60s and 70s (always used???). > > I have not done much voicing. I have steamed a fair little bit. I have stuck > a few hammers with needles with generally acceptable results. I have never > tried to make hammers brighter. I have a lot of written material describing > how to apply hammer hardener (laquer, etc.). What I am asking here is for > some input on direction. Is a liquid hardener the way to start, etc., etc.? > Any thoughts are welcome. > > I'm not afraid to put a soundboard in a piano, but voicing scares me - I > can't hold it in my hand, I can't measure it, I can't cut it, I can't glue > it! > > Terry Farrell > >
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