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<DIV><SPAN class=488294409-06102002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2>Dear
Del,</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=488294409-06102002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=488294409-06102002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2>I
appreciate a lot your story with Arthur Rubinstein ! great pianist among =
the
first in my preferences.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=488294409-06102002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=488294409-06102002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2>While
I like the tone of your Steinways, the fact that the lower regions are =
not
moving I always can hear, and that gives that immediate tone which have =
less
levels of contrast than with unlaquered ones (it is not possible to look =
deep in
the touch to obtain a full tone, as it is with the Hamburg hammers) To =
the
extreme, that is the Glenngould piano, and that is why I used that
comparison.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=488294409-06102002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=488294409-06102002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2>Bluthner hammers are lacquered all around too from the start, =
and, while
it gives a certain smoothness to the tone, that limits the =
possibilities. IMHO,
the pianist touch will give smoothness,, strongness or deepness =
depending of his
weight, his technique, his musicality. The piano may not produce a =
specially
made tone, in fact on a good piano a bad pianist will produce a bad
tone.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=488294409-06102002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=488294409-06102002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2>But a
good pianist will always make music whatever piano he have =
!</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=488294409-06102002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=488294409-06102002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2>The
use of acetone to wash lacquered hammers works much , I have =
used
it sometime lately. Do you press literally the hammer to wash it
?</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=488294409-06102002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=488294409-06102002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2>But
once the hammers have been lacquered, beside the 'crusty' part =
of
tone, I believe they just can't move enough to be really completely =
working
, so I will stay away from dope forever now. Old timers here say the =
same, if
the tone is mushy , waiting for the piano to be played enough will most =
of the
time bring some tone back in a few months.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=488294409-06102002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2>And good use of the base needling give impression of power =
on
hammers that have lost their resilience.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=488294409-06102002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2>But
indeed I've seen that even on a well known workshop, the use of =
acetone+plastic
solution is usual on old hammers, soaked from the low regions to 11:00 =
1:00 ,
then needled . </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=488294409-06102002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2>One or
2 applications and enough time to dry before, but I don't like the tone =
quality
obtained, and It does not evolve well in time. Just enough to sell the =
piano my
guess ! Broken strings appears in the following year under professional
use.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=488294409-06102002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=488294409-06102002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2>And
beside all, many techniques in regulation can help to correct the =
hammer's
state, temporarily if necessary. That is what I've seen for years with =
fast
corrections applied to the bedding, the hammer stroke, etc , and while =
these
regulations where apart from optimum regulation for many aspects, they =
always
helped to produce a more powerful or a more open =
tone.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=488294409-06102002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=488294409-06102002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2>Not
that I find that it is the optimum way to go, but while tuning I =
actually often
change the bedding a bit to correct for weak zones, when possible (then =
drop may
need some touch up, as the stroke).</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=488294409-06102002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2>I
believe I am on that learning curve that pushed to the extreme lend to =
these
super powerful pianos I often meet after they have been voiced by our =
best old
timers. A lot of whip effect, more power than necessary, immediate tone =
and a
lot of mechanical advantage to the pianist, then a little evening at the =
crown,
and that's it !</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=488294409-06102002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=488294409-06102002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2>Not
much to do with heavy hammers in fact, just some ideas =
.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=488294409-06102002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=488294409-06102002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2>BTW, I
checked the use of a shimmed cardboard's punching at the balance rail =
(glued) ,
ant that even well the touch between sharps and whites (KWR 0.53 & =
0.51) ,
giving more speed at the beginning at the stroke. Sure the process is =
worth to
look thru (sorry for the English ;>()</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=488294409-06102002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=488294409-06102002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2>Best
regards.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=488294409-06102002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=488294409-06102002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2>Isaac
OLEG</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=488294409-06102002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=488294409-06102002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=488294409-06102002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=488294409-06102002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=488294409-06102002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=488294409-06102002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=488294409-06102002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=488294409-06102002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=488294409-06102002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=488294409-06102002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=488294409-06102002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=488294409-06102002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=488294409-06102002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=488294409-06102002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr
style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px =
solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader dir=ltr align=left><FONT =
face=Tahoma
size=2>-----Message d'origine-----<BR><B>De :</B> Delwin D =
Fandrich
[mailto:pianobuilders@olynet.com]<BR><B>Envoyé :</B> jeudi 3 =
octobre 2002
21:29<BR><B>À :</B> oleg-i@wanadoo.fr; =
Pianotech<BR><B>Objet :</B>
Re: To be or not to be: a heavy hammer<BR><BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000080></FONT> </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; =
BORDER-LEFT: #000080 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=oleg-i@wanadoo.fr href="mailto:oleg-i@wanadoo.fr">Isaac =
OLEG</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A =
title=pianotech@ptg.org
href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">Pianotech</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> October 03, 2002 12:09 =
AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> RE: To be or not to =
be: a
heavy hammer</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=770065306-03102002><FONT face=Arial =
color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=770065306-03102002><FONT face=Arial =
color=#0000ff size=2>To
have the Glengould tone we will not need heavy hammers at all, but =
Arthur
Rubinstein would be sad of a too light one I =
guess.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=770065306-03102002><FONT face=Arial =
color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV></BLOCKQUOTE>
<DIV dir=ltr><SPAN class=770065306-03102002><FONT =
color=#0000ff>Interesting
you should bring up Arthur Rubinstein in this context. I prepared and =
tuned
the local CD piano for him several times in the early 70s.
</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><SPAN class=770065306-03102002><FONT
color=#0000ff></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><SPAN class=770065306-03102002><FONT =
color=#0000ff>The instrument
was relatively new but had been used in New York for several years by
Steinway. When the piano arrived in Portland (Oregon) it had =
relatively small
hammers that had been so heavily lacquered they more closely resembled =
small
granite sculptures than anything intended for a piano. Everybody =
complained
about it, most notably our symphony conductor (also a pianist). =
Something had
to be done--and fast. I saturated the hammers with acetone a few times =
and
washed out as much of the lacquer as I could. This loosened them up
considerably and, with a bit of careful needling and a =
light sanding
they came around rather nicely. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><SPAN class=770065306-03102002><FONT
color=#0000ff></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><SPAN class=770065306-03102002><FONT =
color=#0000ff>I was quite
new at concert work of any kind the first time Mr =
Rubinstein</FONT> <FONT
color=#0000ff>performed in Portland and I was some nervous to be =
working for
an artist with his reputation and experience. Especially when I heard =
he had
used--or at least played on--the CD piano we now had. My primary =
concern was
that it had now changed considerably and he might not like it. I was =
fully
prepared to fill the hammers up with lacquer once again if he =
requested a
'brighter' tone. Turned out he really liked the piano just as it =
was--he had
not cared for it when he played it in NY--and ended up requesting
that the piano accompany him for the rest of his northwest (U.S.) =
tour.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><SPAN class=770065306-03102002><FONT
color=#0000ff></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><SPAN class=770065306-03102002><FONT =
color=#0000ff>So much for
large, heavy hammers on concert pianos. And, for that matter, heavily
lacquered hammers. At least in this case.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><SPAN class=770065306-03102002><FONT
color=#0000ff></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><SPAN class=770065306-03102002><FONT
color=#0000ff>Del</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT =
size=2></FONT> </DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>