Voicing the new piano

[SUSAN P SWEARINGEN]

Hello,

But aren't you in danger of also softening the strike point when you use
steam??
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tom Servinsky" <tompiano@gate.net>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Friday, July 12, 2002 5:32 AM
Subject: RE: Voicing the new piano


> David,
> Anyway you slice it, voicing is a temporary state.  The more the piano is
> played the more temporary the voicing will remain. That being said, and
> believe it or not, steaming can have a unusually long lasting effect on
> maintaining the basic shape of sound. I'm not sure of the complete
> scientific analysis of what's happening but I think steaming forces hot
air
> pockets into the felt causing the felt layers to separate which creates
> "cushions", which in turn causes the hammer to react favorably when
> impacting with the string. Comparing that to excessive needling, which is
> constantly tearing the felt fibers, steaming is a much more holistic
> approach to voicing. Longer lasting and less destruction to the hammer
felt.
> Tom Servinsky,RPT
>
>
> From: owner-pianotech@ptg.org [mailto:owner-pianotech@ptg.org]On Behalf
> Of David Ilvedson
> Sent: Thursday, July 11, 2002 7:16 PM
> To: pianotech@ptg.org
> Subject: Re: Voicing the new piano
>
>
> 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
>
>