<html> <head> <META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=us-ascii"> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 10 (filtered)"> <style>  </style> </head> <body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=blue> <div class=Section1> I don’t care for that approach.  While it will tone down the attack on a hard hammer, I don’t think it’s really how those hammer were meant to be treated.  The problem with tensioned hammers is often that the shoulders have no give, not that the hammers are too hard under the crown.  They should be relatively hard there.  First you need to needle the hammer from 10 – 11:30 and 12:30 – 2:00 and create a softer area there.  That might take several stitches on each side—maybe more than several depending on the hammer.  After that there should be an inverted triangle that doesn’t get needled directly except for maybe 2-3 mm at the surface.  After you soften the shoulders, you can insert a needle very close to the strike point and pointed slightly away from the tip of the molding to release some tension from the crown but only after you have created a cushion in the shoulders so that the tension from the crown has somewhere to go.  That type of voicing will be much more stable, will produce a similar tone at all levels of playing and also will not sound crappy and distorted when you play a forte, which a hard shoulder softer crown will.  Lacquered hammers are a different story and some hammers just don’t respond to anything.  They should be thrown out.    <div> David Love davidlovepianos@comcast.net www.davidlovepianos.com </div> -----Original Message----- From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of PAULREVENKOJONES Sent: Friday, August 31, 2007 1:14 PM To: Pianotech List Subject: Re: Voicing needles?   <div> Ed: </div> <div>   </div> <div> I've found their greatest utility to be in stitching from the side of the hammer at or just above the wood molding. A single needle all the way through at various positions in a straight line up from the tip of the molding can do wonders. But with care! A stitch at a time. </div> <div>   </div> <div> Paul </div> <div>   </div> <div> <div>   </div> </div> </div> </body> </html>