Yamaha Voicing

[Greg Newell]

Terry,
    While it may be fun or interesting for us hands on types to do all that
measuring I found that it's a quick test to simply pluck the string. If I can
get sustain and power from the pluck but not from the hammer I look at voicing.
If I can't get it either way I verify by crown and or downbearing that the
problem is more complex. Sometimes a great deal can be done with simple voicing
techniques. I like to leave the big guns in the bag until i need them. No need
to scare the customer until we absolutely have to. :-)

Greg

Farrell wrote:

> I will be voicing a 15 year old mid-sized Yamaha grand in a couple weeks. I
> am very much a beginner in voicing. The owner complains that it is "not as
> mellow as it was before". I'm looking for any general do's and don't
> regarding Yamaha hammers. I will likely be using some light steaming as a
> first step aimed at general brightness reduction.
>
> The owner also complains of the "upper register" being quieter than the rest
> of the piano. I asked if it was most noticeable in the 5th or 6th octave.
> She said yes. So I realize this may largely be a soundboard problem, and I
> will measure soundboard shape and downbearing to evaluate that. But even if
> it is a soundboard problem, I doubt she is ready today to put in a new
> board. What if anything can be done to at least partially improve this area.
>
> Thanks for any guideance.
>
> Terry Farrell

--
Greg Newell
mailto:gnewell@ameritech.net