Hearing problems/hard hammers

[David Love]

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String covers don't influence the tone.  Try some sample hammers and see
what you find.  I think you are fighting a losing battle with what's =
there.
Sample the mid tenor through the lowest capo section.  Get a couple of
hammers and move then around.  Ronsen Wurzens may be a good starting =
point.=20

=20

David Love
davidlovepianos@comcast.net=20

-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On =
Behalf
Of Barbara Richmond
Sent: Wednesday, September 07, 2005 4:35 PM
To: Pianotech
Subject: Hearing problems/hard hammers

=20

Greetings all,

=20

Nope, I don't have hearing problems (at least, I hope not), but I have a
customer who has developed a neurological problem that affects his =
hearing.
His piano, a Seiler 8' grand, model 240.  This is a piano I started
servicing 13 or 14 years ago, then I moved away. Now I'm back and have =
been
asked to service it again. =20

=20

While I was gone the piano had some work done on it and the tech used
plastic and acetone on the hammers.  Whoa!  Anyway, I was pretty shocked =
at
the sound and did what I could to get rid of the plastic sizzle the =
first
time I saw it.  The owner was pleased with what I did, but I still =
wasn't
totally happy with the voicing.  I figured I'd try to do more with each
visit (we're on a quarterly schedule). =20

=20

So, yesterday, I did some minor filing and needling, working to remove =
what
was left of the sizzle and improve the bloom and sustain.  I thought it =
was
coming along, but was reluctant to bring the attack down too much.  As =
it
turns out, I could have done more, because when I e-mailed the customer =
this
morning, asking him if the tone had improved, he said it was still too
harsh. =20

=20

Ah.  Hmmm.

=20

I see my choices as really going after those extremely hard hammers with
motorized needling and/or softener, or replace them with something =
softer
like the Ronsen Wurzens.  The customer was very interested when I =
mentioned
going to a softer hammer.  I guess I'm looking for the hammer that would =
be
the easiest to control and hold the voicing longer.  I keep thinking =
these
hard hammers will always need a lot of voicing.

=20

Actually, I've never really liked the sound of this instrument.  The =
sound
is thin and nasal.  I'm afraid my attempts to open up the hammers with
traditional needling haven't been very successful.   Maybe all I need to =
do
is bring out the big guns to make a difference.  Or, (unless I destroy =
the
hammers) will it always sound like a piano with hard hammers? =20

=20

This case is somewhat more complicated than others because of the =
hearing
disorder.

=20

The more I write this, the more I think I should just replace the =
hammers
and quit fooling around with those bits of granite.=20

=20

Comments?

=20

Oh, yeah, there's another question.  I've never heard a piano with an
Edwards String Cover on it.  How does it affect tone and or volume?

=20

=20

Thanks much,

=20

Barbara Richmond


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