<HTML> <HEAD> <TITLE>Re: Lacquer application</TITLE> </HEAD> <BODY BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF"> I'd like to put in a good word for the occasional, intelligent use of keyto= p hardener. I find it excellent for "detail" voicing or tone build= ing; after you've done your major lacquer application/s and find that a few = notes have a little less power than their neighbors, using a very thinned ou= t solution with keytop can tweak those notes up just the right amount. I'm t= alking about a solution that looks like skimmed milk (or even weaker). Used = with discretion, this sort of thing can give you the subtle boost the note n= eeds. I remember first watching Franz Mohr use keytop solution many years ago in = a seminar talk. The thing that sticks in my memory is that he even liked to = use it on just one string line on the hammer if he felt that was all it need= ed. Detailed juicing, indeed... It's also great in concert prep situations, where you don't have the luxury= of waiting for lacquer to dry. I agree, however, that used as the main hardener it tends to be more brittl= e and noisy sounding, and I prefer lacquer for "the main dose".<BR= > Allen Wright, RPT Northern Kentucky University ---------- From: David Love <davidlovepianos@earthlink.net> To: College and University Technicians <caut@ptg.org>, caut@ptg.org<B= R> Subject: RE: Lacquer application Date: Wed, Oct 15, 2003, 10:21 AM <BLOCKQUOTE>Though it's a bit more trouble and involves standing the action= on end, applying lacquer from the side of the hammer gets the hardener unde= rneath the strike point (where it belongs) without it wicking up to the surf= ace where it can make noise.  You can control exactly how near the crow= n you put it this way.  That is how I apply lacquer (not keytop materia= l) and I've found it's best to do it from both sides.   David Love davidlovepianos@earthlink.net <<FONT= COLOR="#0000FF">mailto:davidlovepianos@earthlink.net>     <BLOCKQUOTE>----- Original Message ----- From: Lance Lafargue <mailto:lancelafarg= ue@bellsouth.net>   To: caut@ptg.org <mailto:caut@ptg.org> Sent: 10/15/2003 5:49:17 AM Subject: Lacquer application This is related to my other post, but dif= ferentÖÖ..   When prepping new Steinways, does it matter where= the lacquer is applied and can this contribute to the zinging sounds mentio= ned in my V-Bar post?     In other words, if the lacquer is applied from the crown= (very top) as opposed to the shoulders and allowed to wick up to the crown = from the sides, could this add to the amount of material sitting near the ou= ter surface of the top of the hammer, adding to the difficulty with zinging?=  Could the application of hardener to the shoulder and allowing it to = wick to the top help to minimize the unwanted high frequencies while allowin= g firm support to the shoulders giving volume and power?     I have found the use of acetone/key top solution to incr= ease this unwanted noise over lacquer.   Thanks!   Lance Lafargue, R= PT LAFARGUE PIANOS <= BR> New Orleans Chapt= er, PTG 985.72P.IANO lancelafargue@= bellsouth.net   </BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE> </BODY> </HTML>