Voicing the new piano

[Baldwin Yamaha Piano Centre]

Hi David,
                 I think the steam just pops out the compacted area, the 
key is dry ironing with a warm iron to set the felt after the light 
steaming. Most of the damage done to hammers is compaction, NOT wear. You 
are just reversing the process with steam.
A few of the Yamaha tech's that have attended my classes have said, " wow, 
you do mean controlled voicing."  Usually in the class, I will voice 
adjacent hammers both ways, steam and traditional.  Then ask if the class 
can tell the difference.  <G>
The steam is fast and expedient, particularly on verticals.  Each process 
has it's place in our arsenal.  Zero budget practice pianos I will steam 
down for nothing. Only takes about 10 mins. The time is regained on the 
tuning side, and gives the appearance of the tuning lasting longer. A 
bright screaming piano never quite sounds in tune to me, even after I have 
just finished tuning.
No I will don my flame suit, and duck.

Regards Roger

At 04:15 PM 7/11/02 -0700, you wrote:
>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

Roger