hammer softener?

[David Love]

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The decision on how to voice down a hammer has to take into =
consideration just where the hammer is hard.  You can really divide the =
voicing issue into two areas.  Resilience and attack.  If the hammer =
lacks resilience, i.e. it is hard deeper into the hammer, then steaming =
won't really address that.  It will mask it by softening the outer =
layers, but it won't take care of the problem.  If the hammer is hard in =
the striking area, i.e. if the attack needs to be attenuated, then =
steaming or crown needling will be effective.  To determine where you =
need to voice you have to alternate between hard and soft blows.  Harder =
blows will tell you more about the deeper part of the hammer and its =
resilience, softer blows more about the crown and the attack.  You can =
have a resilient hammer with sharp attack, a resilient hammer with soft =
attack, an unresilient hammer with soft attack or an unresilient hammer =
with sharp attack.  I personally think that you need to address =
resiliency first and that there is usually an optimum level of =
resiliency.  Typically it is described as one which achieves adequate =
power on a hard blow without the tone breaking up.  There is little =
benefit to an unresilient hammer and a notable loss of power with an =
overly resilient or unsupported hammer.  Once you achieve the proper =
level of resiliency you can then turn your attention to the attack.  =
Here there is much more room for personal taste.

David Love





----- Original Message -----=20
  From: Wimblees@AOL.COM=20
  To: pianotech@ptg.org=20
  Sent: July 15, 2002 8:27 AM
  Subject: Re: hammer softener?


  In a message dated 7/15/02 10:18:40 AM Central Daylight Time, =
piano@charlesneuman.net writes:=20



    Has anybody used a liquid called "hammer softener"? Pianotek sells =
it. I=20
    assume the responses will be that it's no substitute for proper =
voicing=20
    techniques, but I'm curious if anybody has found an appropriate use =
for=20
    the stuff.=20

    Charles Neuman=20






  There are four ways to soften hammers.=20

  1. Use the product you mention. I have never used it, so I can't make =
a comment on it.=20
  2. Use Downey Fabric Softener. Dilute it about 5 or 6 to one, and it =
works great. The only problem is, it colors the hammers blue.=20
  3. Use a damp cloth and a hammer iron. Roger Jolly explains this =
method. I have used it several times with great success. I am going to =
use it on all the practice rooms pianos. The nice things is, it is =
instantly reversable, by ironing the hammers without the wet cloth.=20
  4. Needle like hell. It can be effective, but it does damage the =
hammers. And it is hard on your arm muscles.=20

  I am not recommending any one of the four methods. However, I like =
number 3.  =20

  Wim=20



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