Voicing for sustain: was Downbearing and Tone

[Mike Spalding]

David,

Thanks for the outline - I've been working this one "in my spare time":  do
a little, listen, sleep on it, listen again, do a little more, etc.  Got a
lucky break, the owners went on a month-long vacation, so I don't need to
rush through this.  Strike point, shape, and string fit were all good.
Pluck sustain, while nothing to write home about, was longer than hammer
sustain.  Shoulder needling and crown pounding are gradually producing
results.  The "short sustain zone" is getting smaller, only about 7 or 8
notes left now to bring out.  Will probably also do a little
filing/polishing with very fine paper.

regards, and thanks

Mike Spalding RPT

----- Original Message -----
From: "David Love" <davidlovepianos@earthlink.net>
To: "Pianotech" <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Saturday, March 15, 2003 9:04 AM
Subject: Voicing for sustain: was Downbearing and Tone


> My guess is that it's the soundboard.  Try plucking the strings on the
> notes in question and see if you are getting much more out of them than
> when struck by the hammers.  If so, then you can probably improve the
> sustain by further needling the shoulders and getting more resilience in
> the hammer.  After needling try pounding the crown of the hammer a few
> times supported underneath by a wooden block.  Us a small combination
> hammer or the back of a voicing tool if you have one that is flat.  Hold
> the hammer firmly so you don't snap it off.   Abel hammers can be tricky
to
> get them to open up.  Also, try moving the strike point around by sliding
> the action in or out to see that improves things.  Having the hammers too
> far out (striking the string too far from the capo bar) can reduce sustain
> and power.  Make sure the hammers are well fit to the strings and have a
> good shape on top.  Since they are new I assume the shape is probably
good.
> If none of that works, then I think it's probably the board.
>
> David Love
> davidlovepianos@earthlink.net
>
>
> > [Original Message]
> > From: gordon stelter <lclgcnp@yahoo.com>
> > To: Pianotech <pianotech@ptg.org>
> > Date: 3/15/2003 5:11:03 AM
> > Subject: Re: Downbearing and Tone
> >
> >   Abel Encores,
> > > have done some shoulder needling but don't want to
> > > over do it.
> >
> > I have also just put some Abel encores on a piano
> > which is having problems with very short sustain. I
> > followed Wally's needling directions, which improverd
> > the sustain some, but not dramatically. Is it the
> > piano, or is this chracteristic of the hammers?
> >      Thunk
> >
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