kneading hammers

[Barbara Richmond]

David,

Well, I wouldn't agree going that far, because I used the technique on a lot of Kawai grands from 1985-1990 (per the instructions of a Kawai consultant at the time).  The tone quality/voicing of those pianos has held up remarkably well throughout the years.  The method I used made opening up the sustain easier--not requiring as much needling.   Of course, they still require shaping and some crown work, but they are incredibly easy to work with.

Barbara Richmond, RPT
near Peoria, IL


----- Original Message ----- 
  From: David Love 
  To: 'Pianotech List' 
  Sent: Monday, June 04, 2007 12:34 PM
  Subject: RE: kneading hammers


  Any set of hammers that needs pliers for voicing ought to be replaced.  



  David Love
  davidlovepianos at comcast.net
  www.davidlovepianos.com 

  -----Original Message-----
  From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Erwinspiano at aol.com
  Sent: Monday, June 04, 2007 6:42 AM
  To: pianotech at ptg.org
  Subject: Re: kneading hammers



    Hi Rupert

    I have done my share of this in the past but never on a real quality set of hammer.  It is in my Opinion, that this is a technique reserved for poorly made/ or petrified felt type hammers.  I consider it the last final act of voicing desperation.  Also on some pianos it makes a change for the better in a short amount of time & my ears don't hurt so much. i.e. spinets, over heated & shrunken hammers or over juiced.  The muted sound you mention comes from using pliers too far up on the hammer which cups the crown rendering the strike surface un level.

    It also may be just the  pre voicing on some hammers need so that one can actually finish up & refine the job with some needling.  All hammer voicing manipulations are redistributing the densities of the hammer thereby by moving the felt fibers thus making them more ...or less....linear in there ability to produce tonal spectrum.

    Dale

    My original query cited Howe's book, which turns out
    to be the Revised 3rd edition of 1963 (not 1948 when
    it was first published - sorry about that).

    On p.61 he says:
       "Another method of softening the hammers has proved
       satisfactory: Take a pair of gas-pliers and squeeze
       the felt in both directions alternately: in other 
       words, knead it with the pliers".

    So far this idea of alternate directions has not been
    mentioned by contributors.

    ( The idea that the tone can also be strengthened is
    intriguing me (see below).  Seeing most contributors
    have said avoid squeezing the tip, it would seem that
    they would have strengthened the tone rather than
    mellow it by squeezing elsewhere.  Most contributors 
    have said squeezing is like a lot of needling - which
    always softens does it not? )

    I am now very interested in what exactly happens to
    the
    fibers of felt when it is needled / squeezed.

    I did do a gentle lateral pliers squeezing on my old
    Bluthner upright, and have done no permanent damage:
    in fact, after a few weeks playing it sounds much
    better to me, although it was a bit muffled
    immediately afterwards.  Further experiments will be
    confined to my wife's spinnette!


    Rupert








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