Joe, Ok, I'll be brave. Pliers (vise grips) were sort of popular some years back, but it seems they are politically incorrect these days. I learned to use them to soften up really hard shoulders (not lacquered ones!) to make needling possible where sustain was lacking. Using vise-grips would cause cupping on the shoulder and then next, one would needle enough to remove the cupping. Worked great to open up the sound on certain pianos. I won't mention any names, but I learned it from factory tech reps--so somebody thought it was OK back then. ;-) Aw heck, things go in and out of fashion, except perhaps for orange shag carpeting and flocked wallpaper. As with any voicing method (and there are a mess of them), the secret is to proceed with caution, since hammers can get destroyed by overdoing anything. Barbara Richmond, RPT Peoria, IL Chapter > Joe Goss says: > > >But other methods, chemicals, filing, fabric softener, steam, side needling, > >but as yet no use of pliers. > > > > > Joe, I have used pliers in the past with no real long-lasting affects. > Perhaps I was using the wrong technique(fairly self-taught on that one). > I did apply some good ole Yankee ingenuity and common sense..obviously > my common sense needs some work. > > Recovering Yankee, > Phil Bondi(Fl) > > _______________________________________________ > pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives >
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