[pianotech] can I take a different tack?

Mike Spalding mike.spalding1 at verizon.net
Mon Nov 24 17:38:00 PST 2008


Tom,

Shoving tacks into the strike points will work.  "Work" meaning it makes 
an unusual sound, and they don't fall out right away.  My brothers and I 
demonstrated that on our family Lester many decades ago, and the tacks 
stayed put until the parents made us remove them.  Sounds like you won't 
have to worry about angry parents, either.  If this guy's got gold 
records, he can afford a new set of hammers when/if he gets tired of the 
sound.  Maybe you should bring a couple sample hammers to temporarily 
install so he can hear what it sounds like before you ruin them all.  
Sounds like fun.  Let us know how it turns out.

Mike

Tom Sivak wrote:
> List
>
> On Wednesday I am going to be asked about converting an upright piano into a "Tack Piano".   
>
> I know that Schaff has a rail that can be installed to simulate the "Tack Piano" sound, but I'm not convinced it will work very well.  After all, it's from Schaff!
>
> Oooh, I can't believe I wrote that!
>
> No, what I meant was, after all, mute rails don't work very well either, even on Yamahas, so why would a self-installed tack piano rail work?  On the other hand, it would be non-invasive and non-permanent.
>
> But, I'm wondering about other options.  Certainly actual tacks could be inserted into the hammer at the strike point---I assume that's what was done originally.  Why else would it be called a "tack piano"?  That would work wouldn't it?   
>
> I also wonder if the hammers could be doped to be hard enough to simulate the tack piano sound.   The negative here would be the relative permanence of the modification. 
>
> I'm open to other suggestions or flames in my general direction.  However, before anyone throws dirt at the client who wants this done, I should mention that he's a rather high profile successful rock musician with Gold Records and all that comes with it.   This is my first appointment with him, so I'm interested in accommodating him in whatever way I can.
>
> Including buying 88 tacks and shoving them into the hammers, one by one, if that's what it takes.  
>
> Any thoughts?
>
> Tom Sivak
> Chicago
>
>
>
>
>
>   



More information about the pianotech mailing list

This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC