Hearing Aids and Voicing

[jpiesik@arinc.com]

     Hi List,

     I reshaped hammers on a Poole 1940ish spinet (yup, I did). Did this
     because client was complaining of uneven tone across the keyboard (due
     to deep and uneven wear in the hammers). The piano is sentimental, and
     she was very willing to pay for the work.

     It turned out not bad, I might add. The tone is now very even, bottom
     to top.

     I talked to her after the shaping, and she says it is now too
     harsh/bright for her. (In my opinion, it sounds much better, almost
     mellow!) I haven't softened the hammers, yet.

     Then she mentioned her hearing aids - she's 72.

     The light bulb clicked on! Maybe the hearing aids are making what she
     hears harsher/brighter than what it really is? I recall hearing about
     this before.

     Should I turn those hammers into mashed potatoes to please her?
     Something tells me to please the client, but something else tells me
     to avoid turning the piano into a fluff ball, but, then again, it's
     only a spinet. How far do we go when the client has specific demands?

     Any comments from anyone with experience in this matter?

     . . . and not to mention the brittle and crumbly plastic flanges - oh
     brother!

     Best Regards,

     John Piesik, RPT