Yamaha Voicing

[David Love]

I wouldn't use steam if you are not experienced.  Needles are more
controllable and you can move the tone in small increments.  It seems
unlikely that the upper octaves have gotten quota so I would guess that they
seem quiet compared to the midrange which has become too loud or bright.
Start in the middle of the piano to get  warm but not weak tone and see if
the upper ranges don't fall more into place.  I would start by lightly
filing out the string grooves making sure not to flatten the hammer.  Mate
the hammers to the strings first.  For an inexperienced voicer, I would
start by shallow crown needling at soft blows to even out the attack
(reverse of what normally do).  Then go to heavier blows.  To reduce sound
level on heavier blows start by inserting a needle straight down just off
the crown on either side of the strike point.  If you can't penetrate, angle
the needles slightly out toward the shoulder.  If there is no perceptible
difference, or not enough, you can cross stitch under the crown to bring
down the loud notes.  Three from one side and test, then three from the
other side and test again.  The harder the blow you are testing, the deeper
you will have to needle.  Check Rick Baldassin's literature on voicing the
Renner hammer or Wally Brook's piece on Abel hammers.  Those techniques are
useful for Yamaha hammers.

David Love

----- Original Message -----
From: "Farrell" <mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: January 09, 2002 6:07 AM
Subject: Yamaha Voicing


> 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
>
>
>