voicing little piano

[Mike Spalding]

Tom,

You're talking about a cheap little domestic product of the mid-20th 
century, not a more recent Asian imitation?  Most of these that I see 
have hammers which are not particularly heavy/dense, but they've lost 
their resilience due to age.  I've never been able to do anything to the 
shoulders that will affect the tone - it's got to be at or under the 
strike point.  Quickest and easiest for me has been to do 3-needle 
cross-stitches from above, passing about 1/8" below the surface at the 
strike point.  If the first couple of stabs don't do enough, move closer 
to the crown and closer to the surface.  Do a sound check after every 
one or two stitches, it will change that fast.  You'll be done while Wim 
is still waiting for his iron to warm up <G>.

Mike

Tom Sivak wrote:
> List
>
> I am not a master of voicing.   May I ask for your
> suggestions?
>
> The piano is a little spinet, and really, for its size
> it sounds quite nice in the midrange and treble---when
> it's played softly.  The louder it gets, the brasher
> and more distorted the sound gets.  
>
> The piano is in good regulation and the hammers have
> been reshaped to eliminate the grooves.  
>
> Are there any voicing techniques that might help this
> situation?  Steaming?  Needling the crown?  Gallon of
> gas and a match?  
>
> Thanks for any suggestions,
> Tom Sivak
> Chicago
>
>