<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:x="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:excel" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 12 (filtered medium)"><style></style></head><body lang=EN-US link="#000000" vlink="#000000"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Don’t underestimate the power of compass point voicing. It really is the method of choice for these types of hammers and is relative quick and painless. But a new set of hammers would no doubt be better. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>David Love<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>www.davidlovepianos.com<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Dale Erwin<br><b>Sent:</b> Friday, June 22, 2012 6:42 AM<br><b>To:</b> pianotech@ptg.org<br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [pianotech] broken strings<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:navy'>Also you may wish to simply shape and voice one note first to see if  a reall change is possible  before you waste your time on a set of recalcitrant hammers.<br>  Dale<o:p></o:p></span></p><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><b><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:mediumblue'>Dale Erwin R.P.T.<br></span></b><b><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:green'>Erwin's Piano Restoration Inc.</span></b><b><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:mediumblue'><br></span></b><b><i><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:black'>Mason & Hamlin/Steinway/U.S. pianos<br></span></i></b><b><i><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:cornflowerblue'><a href="http://www.Erwinspiano.com"><span style='color:windowtext'>www.Erwinspiano.com</span></a></span></i></b><b><i><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:darkgreen'><br></span></i></b><b><i><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:crimson'>Phone: 209-577-8397</span></i></b><b><i><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:darkgreen'><br></span></i></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";color:darkgreen'><br><tt> </tt></span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";color:navy'><br><tt>  </tt></span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>-----Original Message-----<br>From: David Love <<a href="mailto:davidlovepianos@comcast.net"><span style='color:windowtext'>davidlovepianos@comcast.net</span></a>><br>To: pianotech <<a href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org"><span style='color:windowtext'>pianotech@ptg.org</span></a>><br>Sent: Fri, Jun 22, 2012 6:28 am<br>Subject: Re: [pianotech] broken strings<o:p></o:p></span></p><div id="AOLMsgPart_1_9477f4d6-6ccf-436a-8765-83d3b33c2119"><div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>Sometimes the scaling is to blame if the break point percentage is too high.  But hammers can contribute and pianists can too.  I would not radically alter the regulation as someone suggested.  That will just have the piano performing poorly.  I would, however, check the regulation to be sure that it’s correct.  Reshaping the hammers will probably help some.  Be sure that you level strings and make sure that the hammers are properly mated.  That’s important as you need the force of the blow distributed evenly between the strings in the unison.  If you’ve had a lot of strings replaced then it is quite possible that the strings are not level.  With badly shaped hammers string mating is impossible.  Shape the hammers so that they are slightly more pointed rather than round.  Is the piano used with orchestra and therefore needs to be somewhat brighter?  For these types of hammers compass point voicing is the best style to use.  The shoulders of the hammers can be impenetrable and since the hammers lack a lot of internal tension shoulder needling is less effective.  That the shoulders lack flexibility can contribute to breakage, however.   Compass point needling directly into and around the crown and then pounding the crown back down to settle the felt either with a small hammer or the back end of the voicing tool will create a tonal gradient that will sweeten up that piano quite a bit.  Ultimately, though, if the hammers are worn down to where they are overcentering (and to where the wood core of the hammer is more in play) then you will have to replace them.  <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>David Love<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><a href="http://www.davidlovepianos.com" target="_blank"><u><span style='color:blue'>www.davidlovepianos.com</span></u></a><o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><div><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'> <a href="mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org"><u><span style='color:blue'>pianotech-bounces@ptg.org</span></u></a> [<a href="mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org?"><u><span style='color:blue'>mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org</span></u></a>] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Greg Hollister<br><b>Sent:</b> Thursday, June 21, 2012 8:46 PM<br><b>To:</b> <a href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org"><u><span style='color:blue'>pianotech@ptg.org</span></u></a><br><b>Subject:</b> [pianotech] broken strings<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>I am servicing a Young Chang grand with a history of string breakage in the top 3 octaves of the piano. The hammers have never been shaped and are quite flat . I'm going to restore the hammer shape but  I'm not sure that's the whole story.  Obviously the pianist has been getting carried away with his right hand, but are the strings themselves ever to blame? I've told the music director that shaping and voicing the hammers may not be a cure all for the breakage but that it will be worth doing in any case.  I guess I just looking for some feedback as to whether I'm taking this in the right direction.  I appreciate any help. <o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>Greg Hollister RPT<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></body></html>