Voicing old Steinway

[Frances Helms]

Occasionally I have found that a slight "lifting" of the hammer felt with a good vacuum system improves the tone quality significantly with no invasive needling necessary.
Fran Helms,
Topeka, Ks.
Stéphane Collin <collin.s@skynet.be> wrote:

>Hello Pierre.
>
>If you feel that the acoustic body is in good shape and responding well to the energy given by the hammers, then, if the sound is too aggressive, I should only "sugar coat" the crown of the offending hammers.  Very progressively.  Hear what happens.  I guess this should be enough.  Deep needling old hammers doesn't sound necessary to me.  Only my opinion, of course.
>
>See you probably at the concert.
>
>Stéphane.
>
>  ----- Original Message -----
>  From: Gevaert Pierre
>  To: pianotech@ptg.org
>  Sent: Monday, October 14, 2002 11:03 PM
>  Subject: Voicing old Steinway
>
>
>  Hi list,
>
>  Anyone a suggestion concerning how to voice or better how not to voice an old Steinway grand (220 cm) of 1867?
>  This is a beautifull  American Steinway and has been purchased by the museum of instruments in Brussels.
>  The hammers have blue and yellow untherfelt and are  not in to bad condition, but the sound is a little to aggressive.
>  Probably that with new and well voiced hammers this piano should have an incredible sound, but they don't want those hammers to be changed.
>  I suppose that voicing to much could mean ruining the hammers?
>  Should I risk  deep needling?
>
>  Thanks,
>  Pierre Gevaert
>  Belgium.
>
>
>

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