<html> Hi Avery,               A Few questions.  Is the note just loud, or is the tone just more 'steely" than the top wound string.? Secondly at ppp is the tone  matched and even? Phasing is really critical in this register, so really check hammer mating and travel. if it is still loud about 4 or 5 shots per shoulder at 2 o'clock nice and deep should help. I am assuming that E2 is also loud compared to Db2. If the needles are going in easily then they are usually effective. Nothing like working under the gun. Regards Roger At 03:32 PM 19/02/99 -0600, you wrote: >Hi Roger & List, > >   Since you chimed in on this, let me ask a question. This isn't the same >thing exactly, as Chris has, but I also have a new 'D' where E-2 (1st bass >string below the break) is giving me fits trying to get the tone in line >with the other notes around it. I've been using steaming and needles and >have improved it quite a bit, but it still sticks out some. All the other >notes have responded nicely to steaming. I'm almost to the point of >slightly hardning the hammers right above the tenor break to even it out >some, although I don't really want to. >   The hammer doesn't seem to be over-doped. The needles go in easily. >However,the sides of the hammer do seem to have a crusty, hard feel. The >dedication concert for this piano is tomorrow night and I'm trying to >finish up on it today. Any "miracle" ideas? Thanks. > >Avery > >>Hi Chris, >>               Has the treble hammers been over doped? Also how old is the >>piano? Finally has there been a noticeable difference in V bar noise since >>the fall?  The voicing in this section is always critical. >> >> The hardener that I have been encountering seems to take months to reach a >>stable state. A new Baldwin L that I received in late October was over >>doped and gave the same symptoms. as time elapsed and the humidity dropped, >>the problem got worse. I have over the coarse of the winter drenched the >>hammers in acetone on three separate occasions. It has washed the hardener >>deep into the hammer, to the point that the bottom of the molding has a >>slight white stain from the material running out. The tone is now wide and >>singing with out the obnoxious percussion effect. >> >>I apply the acetone with an eye dropper untill the hammer felt is >>completely soaked. wait 5 to 10 min to allow the hardener to become >>plastic, then resoak to move the hardener. It is almost like a flushing >>effect. In exteme cases I have used as much as a quarter of a pint of >>acetone. The first time I tried this it was scary, but I felt I had nothing >>to lose as the hammers were useless the way they were sounding. >> >>Lightly needle directly at the strike point can also help. Prop the hammers >>up on a voicing block, use 3 needles and just gently push untill you feel >>the needles just break the hardness. One insertion only and listen for >>change. >>It will probably take several attempts to buid the tone in this register, >>one small step at a time. >> >>Regards Roger >> >> >>At 01:43 PM 19/02/99 -0500, you wrote: >>>dear list, >>> >>>we have a nice new S&S D here at the university that has a small problem >>>that i am not sure how to address.  at the point in the treble where the >>>capo begins i am getting a lot of noise from the non-speking length between >>>the capo and the v-bar.  it's not "a lot" of noise but more than i like.  i >>>have checked all the usual suspects; string level, hammer fit, bridge pins, >>>strings seated, etc.  what i notice is that there is a ton of energy >>>comming over the capo and into this length.  if i put my finger on that >>>non-speaking length and play the note, the tone is dead.  i tried this on >>>other pianos and i don't notice the same effect.  on a hard blow i am >>>getting a sizzle from this section as if the string level was bad.  what's >>>the deal?  should the non-speaking length be getting this much vibration >>>through the capo?  why does muting that length deaden the tone so much more >>>than other, similar pianos?  am i missing the obvious? >>> >>>thanks for your help, >>>chris >>> >>>-Christopher D. Purdy R.P.T.   School of Music  Ohio University  Athens OH >>> >>>-purdy@oak.cats.ohiou.edu   (614) 593-1656    fax# (614) 593-1429 >>> >>Roger Jolly >>Baldwin Yamaha Piano Centre >>Saskatoon and Regina >>Saskatchewan, Canada. >>306-665-0213 >>Fax 652-0505 > > >___________________________ >Avery Todd, RPT >Moores School of Music >University of Houston >Houston, TX 77204-4893 >713-743-3226 ><a href="http://www.music.uh.edu/" eudora="autourl">http://www.music.uh.edu/</a> > <div>Roger Jolly</div> <div>Baldwin Yamaha Piano Centre</div> <div>Saskatoon and Regina</div> <div>Saskatchewan, Canada.</div> <div>306-665-0213</div> Fax 652-0505 </html>