[pianotech] can I take a different tack?

[Al Guecia/AlliedPianoCraft]

Tom, just hit the striking point with some CA glue. I tried it on a piano 
that needed new hammer. Great sound! Much better tonal quality than the 
tacks, with all the tackieness (pun intended) that you are looking for and I 
don't think it will damage the string near what the tacks will do.

Al G

--------------------------------------------------
From: "Tom Sivak" <tvaktvak at sbcglobal.net>
Sent: Monday, November 24, 2008 6:17 PM
To: "pianotech" <pianotech at ptg.org>
Subject: [pianotech] can I take a different tack?

> 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
>
>
>
>
>