<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <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 id="role_body" bottomMargin=7 leftmargin=7 topmargin=7 rightMargin=7> <div class=Section1> If you needle in a direction which is more tangent to the outer part of the hammer leaning the handle of the voicing tool toward the strike point, you will be able to loosen the outer layers of felt and release tension from the hammer overall.  The needles may only penetrate 3-4 mms below the surface using this method but you will be surprised out how effective it is—easier on the hammers as well.  Don’t hesitate to stitch in very close proximity to the strike point but the needles should at that point be pointing toward the shoulder of the hammer.  Trying to drive the needles in a direction more perpendicular to the outer part of the hammer will simply break a lot of needles and won’t be effective.  I really think that soaking them in alcohol just ruins them.    <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 Erwinspiano@aol.com Sent: Monday, November 05, 2007 7:08 AM To: pianotech@ptg.org Subject: Re: Voicing down hammers   <div> <div>           David </div> <div>   These are fairly extreme.  I'm sure the usual needle technique as you described works well in the hammers on the south side of note 50 ish but higher up this set seems like stone.  I'll experiment on a few to see which way will work best. They aren't hung yet & I'm trying to salvage my investment. </div> <div>  After doing some hammer sampling I'm installing a set of the PIano-tek supplied Abel Performance hammers on a BB Mason & for my money,  As far as really dense hammers go, the needles still go in easily albeit firmly & doesn't have the essence of concrete. They are very heavy though.  I suggested to Mark at P- Tek that they make a lighter version of this & he says it's in the works. </div> <div>  Dale </div> <div>   </div> <blockquote style='border:none;border-left:solid blue 1.5pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 4.0pt; margin-left:3.75pt;margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'>  I would only use that in extreme situations with felt that has lost all tension from over heating or pressing and must simply be made less dense overall.  The Renner blue, while it is generally harder than I prefer, is not that type of hammer and will respond to traditional needling procedures.  I have voiced many new MHs and other manufacturers using RBs using this procedure that seemed like would not be able to be voiced down on first listening.  Trust me, the hammers will respond.  That being said, I do wish that the hammer manufacturers would figure out a way to dial in specifications on hammer density (or be more open buyer requests) so that they could really be custom ordered.  The trend with both Abel and Renner is still too hard for most of my needs.    <div> David Love davidlovepianos@comcast.net www.davidlovepianos.com </div> </blockquote> </div> <div>   </div> <div> <div class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in; margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center'> <hr size=2 width="100%" align=center> </div> See what's new at <a href="http://www.aol.com?NCID=AOLCMP00300000001170" target="_blank" title="http://www.aol.com?NCID=AOLCMP00300000001170">AOL.com</a> and <a href="http://www.aol.com/mksplash.adp?NCID=AOLCMP00300000001169" target="_blank" title="http://www.aol.com/mksplash.adp?NCID=AOLCMP00300000001169">Make AOL Your Homepage</a>. </div> </div> </body> </html>