Voicing M&H BB

[Farrell]

Hi Tom. I had suspicions about those little green things on the end of all
those sticks! Do you have any specific recommendations to liven and brighten
this piano up? If this were my piano, I might consider a softer hammer like
the Ronson or Isaac, but I suspect a more firm hammer will be needed for
this Yamaha sound lover (I will have a chat with him B4 replacing any
hammers addressing the concept of selling this piano and buying a Yamaha).
Is there any hammer more firm than a Abel, short of putting a Yamaha or
other Japanese hammer on the piano. What about a Tokai? I know nothing about
these, except to assume they are hard like any Japanese hammer. Would
something like that work on a lifeless (mellow AND quiet) M&H - keeping in
mind the preferences of the owner - he likes the quick, lively, crisp Yamaha
sound.

One thing to consider here also is that this "recording studio" is the
living room of this guy 's house - we are not trying to get sound to the
back row of nose-bleed seats!

I put a set of Abel lights on an old Baldwin R a while back, and whereas you
would not mistake it for a Yamaha, it is a very quick, lively, crisp - yet
full of warmth sounding piano.

What is your experience in selecting hammers for an Aeolian/M&H BB - and
what might you specifically recommend?

Terry Farrell

----- Original Message -----
From: "Tom Servinsky" <tompiano@gate.net>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Thursday, October 25, 2001 6:19 AM
Subject: Re: Voicing M&H BB


> Did you also notice how far the staples on the shoulders go in?
> (chuckle...)Simply window dressing on this vintage.
> As David Love point out this vintage is not one to take bragging rights by
> any stretch, but the critical role the hammer plays in this scale can
affect
> the outcome tremendously. Thus the current status of sound is
lifeless...you
> call it mellow, as do many.
> I could point to a lot of other problems in these instruments..but that
> being said, with a good set of hammers you can end up with a darn good
> sounding instrument. Not as tremendous as a real Mason and Hamlin but
still
> a good sound.
> This is where good salesmanship comes into our work. The ability to sell
> what needs to be  done, even when faced with the "brick wall" of
management.
> Tom Servinsky,RPT
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Farrell" <mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com>
> To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, October 24, 2001 10:29 PM
> Subject: Re: Voicing M&H BB
>
>
> > > Do these have the pretty green shoulder felt?
> >
> > You bet! Kind of a cross between a lovely emerald green and Caribean sea
> > green. I'll bet they would make very stylish ornaments for the Christmas
> > tree!
> >
> > Junk hammers? I'll buy that. But why the HUGE change in tone across the
> > break? I would think that if all the hammers are whatever grade of junk,
> > then this must go way beyond hammers only.
> >
> > Del or Ron? Any input from a belly/scaling perspective?
> >
> > Terry Farrell
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Tom Servinsky" <tompiano@gate.net>
> > To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
> > Sent: Wednesday, October 24, 2001 9:57 PM
> > Subject: Re: Voicing M&H BB
> >
> >
> > > Terry,
> > > Before you get too far into trying to figure the missing link, don't
> look
> > > any further than the hammers.  The hammers on those pianos through
those
> > > years were a waste. There is no sustenance to drive any amount of
tone.
> > Do
> > > these have the pretty green shoulder felt? I can assure you if can
talk
> > them
> > > into replacing the hammers with a good quality hammer ( Abel or
IssacI)
> > > you'll be amazed what can happen.  I did a BB a couple of years ago
with
> > the
> > > same situation. Ended up voicing the hammers way on the mellow sound
but
> > > what a huge sound I ended up with. Nice dynamic range. But when I look
> > back
> > > at those early years trying to salvage parts for the sake of salvaging
> bad
> > > parts, I didn't do anyone any service.
> > > Good Luck
> > > Tom Servinsky,RPT
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: "Farrell" <mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com>
> > > To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
> > > Sent: Wednesday, October 24, 2001 9:13 PM
> > > Subject: Voicing M&H BB
> > >
> > >
> > > > Hello Listees. I tuned a 1979 Mason & Hamlin BB (Hand Crafted by
> > American
> > > > Craftmen) today at a small low (like, really low) budget recording
> > studio.
> > > > The young fellow (very enthusiastic) there was very interested in
> > > improving
> > > > his prized piano. The voicing is horrible. His general comments were
> > that
> > > > the bass is excellent and the rest of the piano is too "dark", and
"it
> > > > doesn't sound like a Yamaha - will replacing the strings make it
> > > > brighter?" - he wants it brighter. My observations were that the
bass
> is
> > > > very bright and brassy and loud and powerful. That drops right off
> with
> > > the
> > > > lowest tenor note - very mellow and quiet - as is the rest of the
> > piano -
> > > > except for occassional tinny-bright notes in tenor and treble. The
> piano
> > > is
> > > > in average shape over-all - it was in a church prior to this guy
> buying
> > it
> > > 4
> > > > years ago (for $4,800).
> > > >
> > > > Anyway, to please this guy, the task is to brighten up all the plain
> > wire
> > > > sections in general, even out the few odd balls, and do something
with
> > the
> > > > bass tenor break - it's worse than most spinets (is this common on
> this
> > > > piano?). It has the little green hammers that M&H (Aeolian) used
back
> in
> > > the
> > > > 60s and 70s (always used???).
> > > >
> > > > I have not done much voicing. I have steamed a fair little bit. I
have
> > > stuck
> > > > a few hammers with needles with generally acceptable results. I have
> > never
> > > > tried to make hammers brighter. I have a lot of written material
> > > describing
> > > > how to apply hammer hardener (laquer, etc.). What I am asking here
is
> > for
> > > > some input on direction. Is a liquid hardener the way to start,
etc.,
> > > etc.?
> > > > Any thoughts are welcome.
> > > >
> > > > I'm not afraid to put a soundboard in a piano, but voicing scares
me -
> I
> > > > can't hold it in my hand, I can't measure it, I can't cut it, I
can't
> > glue
> > > > it!
> > > >
> > > > Terry Farrell
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> >
>