shock absorber

[andré oorebeek]

On Oct 19, 2008, at 11:17 PM, BobDavis88 at aol.com wrote:

> In a message dated 10/18/2008 2:38:30 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, oorebeek at planet.nl 
>  writes:
> Only part of the hammer is the shock absorber, but it is the  most  
> important part of the hammer and the basis for a decent voicing.
> Andre -
>
> Would you mind elaborating? Maybe a difference in definition here,  
> but I think of a shock absorber (as on a car) as a mechanism to  
> convert energy into heat (through hydraulic means). This would seem  
> to me the antithesis of what we want, which is a loss-less means of  
> storing energy and returning it to the string over a varying (and  
> adjustable) period of time.
>
> Bob Davis

Hi Bob and Listers.

Just to make sure we understand each other :
As we all know, a brand new hammer basically needs two voicings :

1. the first voicing, during which we apply a cushion, the shock  
absorber
2. the second voicing, during which we even out the highs and the  
lows, adjust tonal volume, make the left pedal voicing and apply  
'cosmetics'.

As the new hammer is 'usually' stone hard, or at least too hard (or so  
it should be), the tone will be loud, nasal and shrill.
That is because the higher partials predominate.
To make the tone more pleasant and agreeable we need to create some  
lower partials as well.
Therefor we make a 'cushion' and the cushion area is between the basis  
of the hammer and the crown.
The cushion becomes in fact the shock absorber and acts as a 'go  
between' between the loaded and powerful basis, the "battery", and the  
sensitive crown and near-crown area.


To make the 'right' cushion is, according to me, the most difficult  
thing about voicing.
It is about creating the 'right' tone, the 'right' balance between  
power, loudness, and that in great variety, according to a multiple  
taste.
Making a good and healthy cushion/absorber in a professional way (time  
wise), requires great skill and vast experience.


friendly greetings
from
André Oorebeek

Antoni van Leeuwenhoekweg 15
1401 VW, Bussum
the Netherlands

tel :    +31 35 6975840
gsm : +31 652 388008

"where Music is, no harm can be"




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