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<DIV><STRONG><EM><U> Bruce</U></EM></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><EM><U> Thanks for the comments. Mine
below</U></EM></STRONG></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid"><FONT
style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=Arial color=#000000 size=2>Dale,
<DIV><BR class=khtml-block-placeholder></DIV>
<DIV>I agree with Rick's excellent statement: <FONT
class=Apple-style-span color=#091eff>In that perspective I often use the
<<feel>> of the voice. I know that's a loaded concept... but
regardless of the how's and whys... there is definitely a very real sensation
of touch to tone.</FONT> This is something we don't talk about
enough.</FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE>
<DIV> <STRONG>Agreed</STRONG></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
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style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=Arial color=#000000 size=2>
<DIV>I learned from our friend Bob Davis and Steve Schell that I want a hammer
that passes some sort of a compression test. As you might recall, Bob
demonstrated (you also might have been teaching with him) a device that he
could insert a hammer and put the "squeeze" on it. This should have
made a statement for anyone who was in the class.</FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE>
<DIV><STRONG> Yes that was The Everyday Voicing "Flex-O-meter"
patent still pending. I'll be suing it again in S. F. next week. Yes quite
a statement. The device came about by Bob & I asking just such question as,
how does this work & how do I see it? </STRONG></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
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<DIV>Steve Schell's version of the compression test was a bit simpler to
preformed. He would take a bass or tenor hammer and put the "bite" on it
by putting the shoulders of the hammer between his front teeth feeling
the compression with his jaw when he bit down. We like to call it the
"bite test". (Oh, let me say that the the tongue isn't involved... no
germs! ha) One conclusion is have is: Thin Nasty Tone = Rock Hard Hammer
(to the core)! </FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE>
<DIV> <STRONG> Yeah baby nasty tone --rock hard
hammer. I like to judge hammers on a stiffness scale of 1 to 10. 10
being the rocks....1 being marsh mellows. I like word like stiff &
less stiff. It's amore useful term when talking about non linear felt
springs...I mean hammers. </STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG> The point about tone building was brought home to me again
yesterday as I pulled apart a 6 ft Conover model 88 in the
shop. It's a copy of a AA Mason & Hamlin It was from the Bay area
piano preserve. Barely played it has original everything & sound
really good. Upon inspecting the hammers they were physically large
looking & barely worn. I pushed a no. 6 needle in many hammers & the
felt had the very feel of the Bacon felt under discussion here. It was amazing
& once again confirmed my belief that it doesn't take hard felt to create a
Beautiful tone. These hammers are probably 80 years old & I could shape
& voice them easily. The piano has power & awesome sustain. In
fact all the potential sustain is utilized. Amazing. </STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG></STRONG> </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
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<DIV>So many of the hammers manufactured today do not have any real
compression when I give them the "bit test". Some may say that you need
this for power. Maybe (I don't agree). There is some point at
which the hardness of the hammer core begins to kill the tone. Steve and
I have been saying for a long time: "Hard hammers kill tone".</DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=Apple-style-span>I agree with David Love's post and consider
his thoughts to be <B>excellent</B>. David takes us to the reality of
what most technicians do and that is to service and restore pianos that reside
in homes and not on the concert stage. </FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE>
<DIV><STRONG> It's a great discussion. I appreciate everyone's i.e..
Especially Rics feedback & David Loves comments on hammer
sampling. Davids advice was really helpful this year when it came to
selecting hammers for a 9 ft Grotrian. After thoro sampling, the
only hammer it wanted was the Abel performance hammers from
Piano-Tek. This Saved me hours of sweat & very little voicing plus the
tone was awesome from the get go with very little needling. The concert
assocoation was extatic & I was the Hero. Luv it.</STRONG></DIV>
<DIV></SPAN> </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
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<DIV><BR class=khtml-block-placeholder></DIV>
<DIV>My appreciation to all who are talking about this "delicate" but most
important subject.</DIV>
<DIV><BR class=khtml-block-placeholder></DIV>
<DIV>Bruce Stevens</FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE>
<DIV><STRONG><EM> & to you my friend</EM></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><EM> Dale</EM></STRONG></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
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<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV>On Feb 3, 2007, at 7:59 AM, <A title=mailto:Erwinspiano@aol.com
href="mailto:Erwinspiano@aol.com">Erwinspiano@aol.com</A> wrote:</DIV><BR
class=Apple-interchange-newline>
<BLOCKQUOTE type="cite"><FONT face=Arial color=#000000 size=2>
<DIV>More interesting
discussion</DIV></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE>
<DIV></DIV>
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