hammer softener?

[SUSAN P SWEARINGEN]

I'm a fairly new technician and I feel my own piano (a Yamaha U1) is a
little to bright and harsh.  Using a 3-needle voicer with the needles
extended 1/16", I sugarcoated the strike points in the treble hammers and
boy, what a huge differnece it made.  No more "ping" and a much softer and
richer sound.  It only took 5 minutes but the piano now sounds like a new
instrument.  So, why use softener when a little sugarcoating seems to do the
trick?  Maybe the softener lasts longer.

Corte Swearingen
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tom Driscoll" <tomtuner@attbi.com>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Monday, July 15, 2002 10:24 AM
Subject: RE: hammer softener?


> Charles, I have used the stuff on rock hard asian hammers with good
> results, and I too am interested in the experience of the list with this
> product, but why characterize it's use as improper? Respectfully, Tom
> Driscoll
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-pianotech@ptg.org [mailto:owner-pianotech@ptg.org] On Behalf
> Of Charles Neuman
> Sent: Monday, July 15, 2002 11:13 AM
> To: pianotech@ptg.org
> Subject: hammer softener?
>
> Has anybody used a liquid called "hammer softener"? Pianotek sells it. I
> assume the responses will be that it's no substitute for proper voicing
> techniques, but I'm curious if anybody has found an appropriate use for
> the stuff.
>
> Charles Neuman
>
>
>
>