[pianotech] Follow up report on BB Mason and Weickert felt

[David Ilvedson]

I find it interesting that you didn't need to do any shoulder needling.   The "cushion" is there already?   You immediately had projection...tone above the strings?   

David Ilvedson, RPT
Pacifica, CA  94044

----- Original message ----------------------------------------
From: erwinspiano at aol.com
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Received: 12/15/2009 8:31:08 PM
Subject: [pianotech] Follow up report on BB Mason and Weickert felt



> As some may recall I reporting that we were doing a modest face lift to a 1976 
>Mason Hamlin BB. The dreaded Aeolian years.
> We applied two new top sections of bridge cap and rehabbed the pins in the rest of 
>the bridge. We replaced Shanks and installed the New Ronsen Weicker felted 
>hammers. The piano is done and the tonal results are very pleasing. The teacher in 
>charge of getting it done is very talented young man with good repertoire and he 
>was greatly impressed with the dynamics power and clarity.
> The final voicing protocol other than careful strike weight prep and filing was 
>embarrassingly easy for the result. In the bass I added some 12 to 1 lac acetone to 
>the mono-chords only for a bit more initial boost and four drops on the strike point 
>from note 9 thru 21. The tenor was three drops on the top of each  up to f-3 and 
>nada, zip, nothing from there to the top. Not exazctly filling the hammer with lacquer 
>eh? No needling at all. Impossible?
>   I could not ask for better result and with minimul efforts. I've always considered 
>that the Mason Piano needed a fairly stiff hammer and these were dense for sure 
>but needles are no problem but presently it needs nothing. After some play in time 
>I'll post back with a further review. I've just recieved another identical set & they 
>have the same density, shape and weight as the first set. 
>  Kudos to our hammer head ally...Ray.
>  It occurs to me that some may weary of the hammer felt news, but then that's 
>what the list is for and also what the delete button is for. 
>   I hope no one is snoring
>   You have my open invitation If you are in the area to stop by and enjoy the sound 
>for your self!
>  Kindest regards
>  Dale Erwin

>WWW.Erwinspiano.com