Big Hammers

[Marcel Carey]

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David,

Yes the sustain is improved and so is the richness and presence of the
piano. From the hall, when the bottom lid was put on, it was like if the
piano had moved 10 or so feet in the hall. The actual contraption is not
attached permenantly to the piano. It is hooked and suspended from the case.
I actually bought it from Gaetan Perrin, RPT. It's made from a sheet of some
kind of space age plastic. It's black and is making the piano a lot more
present especially with the orchestra. Before, the orchestra could just
dilute the piano. Now the piano can come above the orchestra if needed.

Marcel
  -----Original Message-----
  From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org]On
Behalf Of David Ilvedson
  Sent: August 30, 2004 6:55 PM
  To: pianotech@ptg.org
  Subject: RE: Big Hammers


  Now isn't that interesting...we talked about the bottom lid many years ago
on the List and it's nice someone actually made one.  Anyone else?
  Marcel, can you determine if sustain seemed to improve with bottom lid.
I remember commenting about rolling a wedge-shaped reflector under the
piano...maybe made of plastic?   I wonder if the bottom board doesn't
restrict sound when it's closed or is it always down?  Fascinating!

  David I.

  ----- Original message ---------------------------------------->
  From: Marcel Carey <mcpiano@videotron.ca>
  To: Pianotech <pianotech@ptg.org>
  Received: Mon, 30 Aug 2004 17:23:57 -0400
  Subject: RE: Big Hammers

  Barbara.

  Have you thought about a bottom lid for this piano. I've installed one in
a difficult hall and had great result. You only need sound reflective
material that is installed below the piano with an angle about the same as
the top lid. It can be tried easily. We had listeners with eyes closed and a
technician removing and installing the bottom lid, and all were unanimous
about the sound outpout increase in the hall.

  Marcel Carey, RPT
  Sherbrooke, QC
    -----Original Message-----
    From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org]On
Behalf Of Barbara Richmond
    Sent: August 30, 2004 1:01 PM
    To: Pianotech
    Subject: Big Hammers


    Hey all,

    Some of you may remember the thread last spring, voicing for a big,
dead, hall.  Still waiting for the bureaucracy to make up their minds, but
in the mean time I've been thinking a lot about the project and I'd like to
have a chat about hammer size.  The hall is huge (3500 seats or so), has
lots of carpet and poses a challenge for the piano's projection.

    I won't go into all the piano's issues (of which it has quite a few and
I can deal with them), but there is one area I'd like to hear your opinions.
Right now, the piano (Steinway D) has the biggest hammers on it that I've
ever seen.  Is it a fact that BIG hammers will help power and projection,
especially in a problem setting like this?   A friend has recommended that I
"leave them big."  Some days I agree with him and on others, I don't.  Of
course, I won't really know what's going to work until I dig in, but I'd
just like to hear what your experience has been.

    Thanks,

    Barbara Richmond, RPT

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