Roger, What do you think is going on with the new hammer in those 6 months? Is the compaction only on the surface and not really getting down into the hammer? What is the sound like when your done with the ironing? Anything like the original? Does it really last 6 months? I'm not familiar with your steaming method...haven't been to a convention in awhile...article in the Journal? David I. ----- Original message ----------------------------------------> From: Baldwin Yamaha Piano Centre <baldwin@mta-01.sk.sympatico.ca> To: <pianotech@ptg.org> Received: Thu, 11 Jul 2002 13:01:29 -0600 Subject: Re: Voicing the new piano >Hi David, > A very light steaming over the crown every 6 months can >greatly extend the life of those hammers. We have done it with some U1's in >University practice studios for 5 yrs now, and no reshaping as of yet. The >light steaming will just pop the grooves out. Dry iron after to set the felt. >Less invasive than needling. >Regards Roger >At 11:28 PM 7/10/02 -0700, you wrote: >>These are SF Ballet's studio pianos. Played by high level musicians for >>high level dance. Classes always use pianists and pianos. We just >>swapped our 20 year old Kawais for the Yamahas. I'm looking for some >>discussion on what is happening with the piano hammer over time, >>especially with the new hammer. I think I'll probably hold off on the >>Ronsen hammers for awhile...;-] I'm not particularly keen on steam but as >>I get desperate who knows? Right now the pianos sound wonderful and I >>have this fantasy of keeping them that way...;-] >> >>David I. >> >> >>----- Original message ----------------------------------------> >>From: David Love <davidlovepianos@earthlink.net> >>To: <pianotech@ptg.org> >>Received: Wed, 10 Jul 2002 21:53:43 -0700 >>Subject: Re: Voicing the new piano >> >> >What are the expectations on the pianos and what are they used for? Are >> >they practice pianos? Teaching pianos? New pianos or old pianos? My >> >experience is that heavily used Yamaha's are difficult to keep voiced to an >> >acceptable level without less traditional methods such as steaming. >> >Steaming is also an easy method for voicing down the uprights where the >> >hammers are not so needle accessible. Overall the pianos will benefit from >> >string seating, proper hammer shaping and fitting. If the clangy rattly >> >sounds disappear when you mute the duplex on the tuning pin side (on the >> >grands), and if you are not steaming, shoulder needling followed by single >> >needles inserted off the strike point straight down parallel to the moulding >> >will eliminate those noises). Heavily used Yamaha hammers are a challenge. >> >A more radical move would be changing the hammers to a nice soft Ronsen >> >hammer which will do wonders for voicing stability and rounding out the >> >tone. >> >> >Generally, the hammer will compact most quickly over the crown, more slowly >> >in the shoulder. >> >> >David Love >> >> >> >----- Original Message ----- >> >From: "David Ilvedson" <ilvey@sbcglobal.net> >> >To: <pianotech@ptg.org> >> >Sent: July 10, 2002 5:41 PM >> >Subject: Voicing the new piano >> >> >> >List, >> >> >I would interested in hearing input about maintaining new pianos. >> >Particularly voicing. I have a new fleet of 9 Yamaha pianos (is that a >> >fleet?) I am servicing on a very regular basis...carte blanc. 1 C5, 3 C2s, >> >3 U1s and 2 P22s. Another P22 in the near future. These pianos are played >> >6 days a week for several hours each day. >> >> >How does playing affect the new hammer, or any hammer? Where is the >> >compaction taking place? What do you do with the clangy, rattlely sound in >> >the trebIe when it shows in ugly face. I have my own techniques, but I'm >> >interested in what others do. >> >> >Thanks in advance >> >> >David I. >Roger
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