Voicing depth

[Walter Sikora]

Keith,

I learned a terrific alternative to deep needling at Wally Brooks'
excellent class this fall at the North Carolina state Ptg convention.
Wally uses Vise Grips to squeeze the sides of the hammer.  This has the
same effect on the resilence of the hammer as a LOT of deep needling.

I learned this just in time to use it on a 1920's Steinway M that was
sounding very harsh and strident.  About an hour's work with the Vise
Grips and some shallow needling removed the harshness and produced a
satisfying fullness and bloom.

The owner says the piano now sounds like he remembers it as a kid.

Walter Sikora, Chapel Hill, NC
RPT in the RTP
On Sat, 3 Feb 1996, Keith A. McGavern wrote:

> >Ok, Keith, here is a newbie question.
> >
> >I've been reading Reblitz about voicing hammers, in which he says to
> >needle deep on the sides and shallow on the striking surface.  For
> >deep voicing, he says to have the needle sticking out 3/4", and for
> >shallow he says to have it sticking out 1/16".  Are those two
> >distances the depth of the needling, i.e. the needles should go all
> >the way in?  If not, how deep should they go in?
> >
> >/Allen
>
> That's how I would interpret what you have posted.  However, it's only a
> starting place for someone who has limited or no experience with this
> activity.  And the approach of depth can be different depending on which
> section of the piano you are needling (bass, tenor, or treble hammers).
>
> Another problem that can occur with accepting this method as a sure fire
> method is that it won't work with all types of hammers.  I can recall one
> instance many years ago when I tried to follow the book like Reblitz, but
> discovered that I was physically unable to penetrate a particular set of
> hammers.  That was a very frustrating experience.  Broke 40+ needles and
> some of my spirit for voicing before I ended up using pliers as a last
> ditch effort to voice the hammers down.  Now I'm not recommending pliers to
> you as a carte blanche method, but that's what I had to do in this given
> instance.
>
> Make no mistake, voicing hammers is an art and is approached in many
> different ways.  Why, just as I sit here typing this to you, I have on my
> desk a five page letter dealing with voicing just one brand of hammers.
> This is a vast subject, Allen, but maybe what I have said will satisfy you
> for a little bit, and maybe some others on the list will have something to
> say on this subject as well.
>
> Keith A. McGavern, RPT
> Oklahoma Chapter 731
> Oklahoma Baptist University
> Shawnee, Oklahoma
>
>
>