Voicing the new piano

[Tom Servinsky]

Off course- but moderation, like in anything, should be the key.
The important issue is to know where the steam is directed and how much.
Granted, putting a sopping wet towel over a set of hammers hammers and going
to town with a  clothes iron is going to do more harm them good.  You'll
spend much more time filing the hammers and correcting those problems then
it's worth. But if you are careful (and be conservative), you'll quickly
gain a "feel" for steam voicing.
As far as the strike point is concerned, sometimes the strike area is so
hard that a light steaming directly on the strike point will yield good
results very comparable to good sugar voicing.
You have to just go out there and try on some old clunkers then eventually
some better pianos and observe the changes and ultimately decide if this
type of an approach tickles your fancy or not.
Tom Servinsky, RPT



-----Original Message-----
From: owner-pianotech@ptg.org [mailto:owner-pianotech@ptg.org]On Behalf
Of SUSAN P SWEARINGEN
Sent: Friday, July 12, 2002 9:43 AM
To: pianotech@ptg.org
Subject: Re: Voicing the new piano


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
>
>