convention update

Ron Koval drwoodwind@hotmail.com
Sat, 29 Jun 2002 23:50:47 +0000


Hi again, once again a direct feed from my Palm- I ran out of gas at lunch, 
went to the mini-techs, but didn't take any notes.  I will prob. post more 
pictures tomorrow.
>>

For today, I chose the Young's well temperament for the sampler.  Again, 
tuned in the morning before the first class.  For me, that was Advanced 
voicing and concert prep with norman neblett and Rick Baldassin.  full class 
to capacity.

first, well regulated
2 - well tuned
3 voiced for intended use, ie stage, recording, chamber music.

power and projection robbers
string level
hammer filing/fitting
hammer alignment/travel
let-off
hammer flange pinning
perimeter bolts& screws
string seating
hammer density/resilience
tuning
keyframe fit/glide bolts
key blocks tight?
jumping ack rail/dags
strike point at notes 69-88
string groove setting

stage ear vs audience ear - not the same

Piano prep
lift all strings at contact points to take curve out of wire at termination 
points.  start 6" from agraffes, pull up and slide to agraffe.  wire in bass 
looked to move 1/4 inch high while pulling.

At capo, start close to the bar and pull toward the bridge.  If doing the 
whole piano, use a brass tool from the action cavity to push the strings 
toward the capo.

Next, level the strings.  Work with the two outside strings to get level.  
Use brass level and then pluck to check for string level of all three.

prop the damper tray up to save time and trouble during this operation.

Next, seat the strings on the bridges.
(about every 4-5 tunings)

seat the front and rear duplex areas.

Now, do a fine tuning in preparation for voicing.

work in "layers" focus on one thing at a time

Techniques for eliminationg bass string noises:  Learned from Yamaha
cross stitch from the side 1/4" aiming toward the middle under the crown, 
single needle, 1 stab for each of the four quandrants, check and repeat if 
needed.

Eliminating harsh and loud tones
(increase dynamic range)
Needle (3 needles, stiking out 10 mm, but only pushing 2-3 mm)using the 
clock face,  9-11:30 and same on the other side.  Pushing in takes less 
stitches than jabbing.  Start low and work up to give proper tension 
release.

Techniques to improve projection and carry

hammer alignment- center the hammers to string (done early on before voicing 
steps)
voicing wit the file- take the edge off the hammer(round off edge), doesn't 
always work.  file on the side of the hammer to brighten up a little.

If note is dull, place rubber mute across three strings, push down to keep 
from moving, then play note real hard repeatedly to settle in the string 
grooves.

Fit hammers to strings (hammer block, pluck test)

sustain:  Use chopstick tool.  place hammer in check, reach in , and work 
1/16-1/8 from edge , from low to high again - saved for "killer octave"   
Maybe 10:00 to 12:00 many shallow stabs outside of string groove.

eveness - again with chopstck shallow across top

final- check the una corda -chopstick-only needle individual string contact 
points


Next on to the pianotech metting!  Most just socialized, but talked about 
some list business, Andy will be updating the server and software, so there 
are some variables to figure out.  It was great to see some faces for the 
first time.  I took some pics, and Conrad gave me a disc that I'll post that 
too.


Onward to the tunelab pocket class with Robert Scott.  3 pocket pcs to use 
between the 11 of us.  Basics of the system from menus to measuring 
inharmonicity, to calculating the curve.

<end>

I'll try again tomorrow!

Ron Koval




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