<html> Hi Bill,           Use a single needle about 1/2" long targeting the tip of the molding. 6 insertions per shoulder ( between 10-11 o'clock) on each hammer will open the tone up considerably and help with sustain and projection.  The sound will become fatter and more dynamic through the ranges.  I cut back to about 3 inserting in Octave 6 and above tapering a little shallower. After hanging just some evening and crown needling is needed.  The tone on these hammers is very responsive. With the hammers clamped on the bench, gang filing is a breeze, all dead even. I have found I can get a nice singing wet sound at ppp.  Such a subjective subject. Regards Roger At 11:18 PM 6/22/01 -0400, you wrote: >At 1:00 AM -0500 6/16/01, jolly roger wrote: >>Hi Dan, >>              I do a certain amount of pre voicing of Abel hammers on the >>bench before hanging, then a 330 grit shoe shine to remove all needle >>marks.  The amount of voicing after, is reduced to minimal in most cases. >>Roger > >Yo, Roger, > >Can you elaborate. Are "all the needle marks" in the prevoicing to >make the sound warmer or brighter? Any Abels I've ever listened to >were warm and lush right out of the box. Do I hear you saying that >shoulder needling will send the hammers to the bright (or at least >firm up their focus)? And that the amount of shoulder needle is large >enough (and predictable enough) that it's more suitably done before >hanging? > > >Bill Ballard RPT >NH Chapter, P.T.G. > >"You'll make more money selling my advice than following it" >     ...........Steve Forbes, quoting his father, Malcome >+++++++++++++++++++++ > </html>