<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META charset=US-ASCII http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=US-ASCII"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1400" name=GENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: = #ffffff"> <DIV><SPAN class=426590012-09052004>Dale , Richard, </SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=426590012-09052004></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=426590012-09052004>I agree with your definition =  of tension , and I understand your enthusiasm with the slicing of high = tension hammers. But still a good hammer may have enough density to allow = for further voicing and maintenance, and I second Richard for saying = that battery needling is not as efficient in the case of a little compression = hammer.</SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=426590012-09052004></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=426590012-09052004>I guess it was not very clear, but = when I say we can have a hammer with a lot of tension, I though more of the = Ronsen kind than the Renner one (till the use of their new presses, the hammers = where varying  in density from one set to another and within the set, so = the softer ones have little tension before voicing). </SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=426590012-09052004></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=426590012-09052004>Then, we rarely have sliced = perfectly voiced pianos hammers , but just by pinching with our fingers we know that = there is enough  tension present or not.</SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=426590012-09052004></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=426590012-09052004>When I was less instructed in = voicing (did not knew about the cushion role for instance) I was focusing a lot = on tension, as a necessity. What we learn to do with the needles is to get = that tension up to some point while providing the internal suspension for the = hammer stroke.</SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=426590012-09052004></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=426590012-09052004>I guess that if the tension is too = high it can create an instability , seem to me that felt hold better compression = than stretching  in time (but the 2 up to certain limit = certainly)</SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=426590012-09052004></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=426590012-09052004>Good voicing bring ARTICULATION in = tone, that is the opposite of straightness or linear . That is what allows the = pianist to have musical layers, then the power within the tone may be sort of = underneath in piano play modes, and get to the front at higher levels.</SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=426590012-09052004></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=426590012-09052004>The number of tone layers may be = the highest possible for me to like a tone. Unfortunately, we are very often limited = by the soundboard, the action type, the keyboard, and also the hammers too much = or not enough voiced very often.</SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=426590012-09052004></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=426590012-09052004>When building the cushion, one = take care of not over needling, meaning we have to needle strong and deep as if the = middle of the hammer is not needled to compensate for the mellowing of the outer = core, indeed the outer tension dissipate and the tone get really dead. Then, = once the compressed felt have released the tension within it, no interest to = needle further. </SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=426590012-09052004></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=426590012-09052004>The high spectra density is due = mostly to the felt quality, and the shape of course, it is easy to use a few drops = of something to add very high partials (or a whoosh tone), but then they = are present in any level of tone, so I don't find this process very = advantageous it is not employed by the pianist to sing.</SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=426590012-09052004></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=426590012-09052004>And our wonderful Wurzen Filz is = absolutely guaranteed without genetically modified wool inside, in fact the only = secret is that the sheep's usually are driven to eat grass near Chernobyl and that = gives that very springy wool quality (if I have well understood Andre's = lecture on the subject).</SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=426590012-09052004></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=426590012-09052004>Enough betises.</SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=426590012-09052004></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=426590012-09052004>back to the puter</SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=426590012-09052004></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=426590012-09052004>Isaac OLEG</SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=426590012-09052004></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=426590012-09052004></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=426590012-09052004></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=426590012-09052004></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Tahoma>-----Message d'origine-----<BR><B>De :</B> pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org]<B>De la = part de</B> Erwinspiano@aol.com<BR><B>Envoyé :</B> dimanche 9 mai 2004 04:03<BR><B>À :</B> pianotech@ptg.org<BR><B>Objet :</B> = Re: Lacquer fight! Lacquer fight!<BR><BR></FONT></DIV> <DIV> <DIV> <FONT size=3><STRONG>    = Isaac</STRONG></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3><STRONG>   My statement on tension. I hope = its clearer</STRONG></FONT></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px = solid"> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3><FONT size=4>>>>Ok Tension = on felt means stretch or pull right? Compression means compaction or densification = right? </FONT></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3><FONT size=4>  Now I want to = make a statement that you can prove for yourself. <EM><U>The Ronsen hammers = is the most tensioned hammer in the world.</U></EM></FONT></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3><FONT size=4>& No I'm not = a salesman. </FONT></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3><FONT size=4>  If the felt on = your preferred hammer is really stretched & tensioned, as you keep referring = to,then if you should be able to cut the hammer open from the strike point to the = molding with a razor& it should immediately & dramitically bloom open. = Especially in the Bass & tenor hammers. </FONT></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3><FONT size=4>   This is = exactly what happens with the Ronsen hammers. All of the hammers Ronsen makes will = do this but the Wurzen felt most of all. I've been at this for years now. I've = cut open all kinds of hammers & I don't believe the phenomena you = refer to as tension is what your using to get tone it's the compaction or = compression. Most hammers will blomm open to some degree but it's not usually = dramtic. Isaac hammers will also do this to some degree.</FONT></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3><FONT size=4>  The point is = that a stretched elastic felt around a hammer molding should equal incresed = springiness & it does.</FONT></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3><FONT size=4>  Also the hammer = your using is a <U><EM>fine hammer</EM></U> & gets a fine tone but I do not = believe it is under much tension as I've expressed it,It's under compaction & = the inherent springiness of the felt is your ally invoicing & I know = that we agree on this.</FONT></FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV> <DIV></DIV></BODY></HTML>