Seiler 180 voicing, frontscale noise questions

[Keith Jones]

Dave and List,

I'll be interested in what others have to say about these pianos as well. I 
service one that a customer bought on my recommendation. I haven't been 
happy with the sound in the area you mention, and also the last couple of 
notes in the lower tenor.
The capo area has the zings that you mention, and I agree that too much 
needling in this area can kill the tone as well as the zing. The bottom 
couple of notes on the long bridge are noticeably different sounding from 
their neighbors. Boomy and hollow.

Everywhere you look on these pianos is quality workmanship and materials. I 
only wish I could make this one sound better.

Keith Jones

At 11:21 PM 3/5/2004 -0500, you wrote:
>Liszt,
>
>I have a job coming up where I'll be working on a Seiler 180(5 10" 
>grand).  I'll be at it all day, easing, lubing, regulating, tuning, and 
>voicing.  These are really well-built German pianos, with Renner blue 
>hammers, and full Renner actions, etc., etc.
>
>I'm sure someone on this list has experience with these pianos.  I've 
>worked on quite a few, but not to this extent.  I've tuned many, and done 
>minor regulations on several, but have never voiced one.  I'm actually 
>surprised that nobody has asked me to voice  because there are some really 
>harsh overtones that emanate from the piano above the treble break.  I've 
>muted some in the past by lacing felt through the strings and wedging it 
>under the capo bar, with some success.  The customer knows about this 
>method, but would prefer it voiced down, or so he says.
>
>My main concern in this whole deal is that I've seen the results of a tech 
>trying to "voice down" that section on a different piano.  The hammers are 
>ruined.  They look like pin cushions, and sound like them too.
>
>Can anyone offer advice on the voicing of these instruments?  M. 
>Orobeek??  Anyone??
>
>I've got a call in to the Seiler rep.  I'm certain he's heard this 
>complaint before.  I'm curious what the company has to offer in terms of a 
>fix.
>
>Thanks in advance for any and all input,
>
>Dave Stahl