<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; = charset=iso-8859-1"> <META content="MSHTML 5.50.4611.1300" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>    Tony, just about = every time I see this "hard attack- poor sustain" situation, it's because the hammer = has no resilience. If I do some serious shoulder needling, fairly deep, and = keep away from the strike point, it almost always gives me more sustain. Surface = needling won't do it, and has the most effect on the crown, that will soften the = tone, but won't do much of anything for the sustain. On the smaller hammers in = the treble, I use a single needle, thin, and about 1/4 inch to 3/8ths inch = long. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>    Of course, mating = strings, regulation, and all that is necessary too, but speaking just about = sustain, the hammer needs "bounce". Also, make sure the downbearing is OK, and that = there's not a problem there, but there probably isn't.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>    Just my two cents worth.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV>Kevin E. Ramsey<BR><A href="mailto:ramsey@extremezone.com">ramsey@extremezone.com</A> </DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; = BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV> <DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: = black"><B>From:</B> <A title=caute@optusnet.com.au = href="mailto:caute@optusnet.com.au">Tony Caught</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A = title=pianotech@ptg.org href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Sunday, April 15, 2001 = 1:04 AM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Steinway Sustain</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV>Hi List,</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>There are some of you out there that would know the answer to = this problem. Need help.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Steinway D model, about 18 years old. This piano has always had a = problem in the treble from about F5 to B6.  Tone is hard and sustain is short.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Over the years I have tried voicing the hammers and can balance = the tone, but, to the expense of the sustain, this drops of even more.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Today I had a note left by the visiting European pianist,  = Michael Leuschner (prior to my visit) asking that I voice the treble, = especially between B & B. "The sound is hard and doesn't last long enough" B6 = isn't bad.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I needled the surface area to even out the tone through this = area and the pianist was happy with the result (needs this area as he is = playing Mozart & Chopin) but, I really want to fix this problem and = because I now have a note from the 'teacher' I have an excuse to fix it.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>What is the problem ?  I have my thoughts but I only work on = 1 Steinway, some one must know what is causing this to happen.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Regards</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Tony Caught ICPTG<BR>Australia<BR><A href="mailto:caute@optusnet.com.au">caute@optusnet.com.au</A></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>