Interesting Piano Belly - Mehlin Grand

[Ron Nossaman]

>I think I know what you're saying--but I'm not totally sure.  Anyway, I
>ended up voicing this particular Boston with pliers.  I really hate doing it
>that way, it seems sort of vulgar.  But I couldn't get a needle into the
>thing to save my life.  The pliers actually worked pretty well.  One squeeze
>at 10:00 and one at 2:00 and the hammers sounded more like sandstone than
>granite.  Yes, that was an improvement.
>
>David Love

David,
This lady had been unhappy with the hard sound since she bought it. Since 
she wasn't complaining about the Hamilton in the basement that, to me, hurt 
just as bad to listen to, I suggested we brass brush the hammer with the 
tuning for a couple of rounds to temporarily and non destructively take 
some of the pain out see if she could meet it half way before we waded into 
any major voicing work. I was trying to get some idea of her preferences 
and tolerances before doing something that I might consider an improvement, 
but she might consider a disaster. The brushing's affect is temporary, 
she's not making her peace with the sound, and come what may, she's ready 
for the next step. I think the pliers are a tad inelegant too, but I'd 
resort to them if I had to. I intend to steam them into the approximate 
range, or rather out of the inappropriate range, and minimally needle as 
necessary to smooth and blend. Just removing the pain should make her day, 
and we'll see what's left to work with when the clang is gone. Then maybe 
we'll talk about that Hamilton.

Ron N