Gotta admit there Phil, I tend to shy away from pianos that need such kind of treatment. IME they end up not being worth either my time or the customers money. IMB such proceedures are not applicable for any piano worth owning, and I choose to exert what little influence I have on the market by rejecting such instruments. Grin.. I know I know... but hey.. thats how I honestly feel. A good hammer lends itself easily to needling which opens up its sound and concentrates as much of the hammers energy right under the crown. Too hard pressed and you need so much needling that you simply rip the thing into shreds. To little and you are bound by hardening agents to a degree that limits your abilities increase power and openess by needling the shoulders. If I had to choose between that situation tho, and having to mash the hammer with over needling, water/alcohol soaks, vice-grips, nubbed pliers and the like... I'd choose the soft hammer and lacquer any day. I just took possesion of Conrads latest <<flame on>> instantaneous flame suit btw... Cheers RicB -------------- Hi all. This is a technique that's been added to the ever-increasing arsenal of voicing techniques..but it has been met with much concern and raised eyebrows in the field..more than steam voicing. Here's the scenario: -Client's home with, usually, a newer piano. After tuning, I go through the action with needles and vice grips. Needles will get a few questions, but the vice grip method always, and I mean always, brings another arsenal of questioning..almost as if they could do it themselves if they were shown a thing or 2. For those of us who do alot of in-home service of new to newer pianos that really require this technique, how do you answer the questions about the viability and the longevity of the technique. Of course, after hearing the difference, their brows come back down towards their eyes... Thanks, -Phil Bondi(Fl)
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