In a message dated 8/31/2000 11:10:54 AM, Dave wrote: <<"I didn't see any humor in it! The man asked a reasonable question and has yet to receive a useable answer. Great job, group! Dave">> Dave; You are as wrong as Roy is. He has received at least four serious and thoughtful answers. (see below) Now perhaps these answers were not 'exactly' what he wanted to 'know' BUT they 'each' addressed the question as he 'asked' it. Fussing is alright but make sure that you know what the danged hack you are fussing about before you do! If Mr Ulrich is desperate for this info there is a superfluous abundance or plethora of "Snuggles", sic "fabric softener", opinionating in the archives. Jim Bryant (FL) ---------------------------------- Original question was: <<"So, please tell, how much fabric softener is appropriate to voice down hammers? Thanks Roy Ulrich">> and some of the 'serious' answers he has received are: <<"With anything which I might try on a set of hammers to voice, there is at least one of two unknowns: the concoction (its composition and strength), and how the hammers are going to react to it. I look up and down the scale for pairs or threesomes of identical sounding hammers. I chalk the keys for reference, and try an application of the mystery sauce on one of the hammers. If I like the change, I do the same treatment on the companion hammers. If the results seem to head the hammers in the right direction but not far enough, I repeat the application on the original trial hammer as well as the companions. That way I've brought up the companions *and* tried a second dose on the trial, ie., the trial will continue to be one dose ahead of its companions. That's methodical enough for me.">> <<"You need to ask first how dilute. 8:1 is the standard, and my first (uninformed) time I used 4:1 on a set of badly over-lacquered Steinway B hammers. They voiced up beautifully and a year later I'm still grateful for Snuggles' work. Which bears mentioning the other serious point: this as do all other mystery sauces only gets you into the ballpark.">> <<"You might as well ask how many times to *poke* a hammer with a needle to correct the voicing. There is *no* straight forward answer is there? (I hope I am wrong, but I don't think so!">> <<"too bad you didn't get the answer you wanted . . .because there is no answer; each piano is different.">>
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