<!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 6.00.2600.0" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY style="FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman" text=#000000 = bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The analogy about the engine had to do = with being thorough in a task.  I thought it was appropriate.  Nobody = ever said anything about not giving the customer what they wanted.  The = discussion had to do with voicing procedures.  For example, I am preparing a = set of Renner hammers for a Bechstein.  Even if I were unaware of = whether the customer wanted the piano bright or mellow, it would not change my = preparation of the foundation of the hammer.  I needle the shoulder to get = resilience into the hammer.  If she wants it mellow I will attend to that by = needling nearer the crown and/or shallow needling on the crown.  If she = wants it bright I might sharpen the attack by filing the hammer slightly or = ironing the felt.  Similarly, I am preparing a set of Steinway hammers for = another customer.  I don't actually know how they will like it, bright or mellow.  But I will lacquer the hammer anyway because it needs to = be firmed up underneath to give some firmness and clarity to the tone.  If = they want it bright I will but a drop or two of solution on the strike point to = sharpen the attack, if they want it mellow, I won't. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The point is that certain hammers = require certain basic preparations.  Good hammers can be brought either way from there.  I am not so arrogant as to impose on a customer that = it's my way or the highway.  But I am also confident enough to know that = there are basic procedures that should be done with any given hammer to ensure = that whichever way you end up going, bright or mellow, the hammer will = perform properly.  </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>David Love</FONT></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=dm.porritt@verizon.net = href="mailto:dm.porritt@verizon.net">David M. Porritt</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> August 13, 2002 5:09 = PM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Voicing</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV>I've been fascinated by the discussion on voicing.  I try to = listen to the kind of words people use to describe the tone they like.  = If they say "I like a bright, crisp piano,  I don't like the muffled = ones"  I know how to proceed.  If they say they like a mellow, warm = piano not a brassy tinny one, I know how to proceed there.  The analogy of = the engine timing is not appropriate as there is indeed a right and wrong timing specification for each engine.  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>A better analogy would be how much jalapeno to put in the bean = dip.  Tastes vary, and there's no right and wrong.  We are like chefs = that are hired to cater a party.  The customer wants her bean dip to suit = her tastes and it's our job to deliver what they want whether it is our = preference or not.  Of course we can gather up our pots and pans and go home = if we want to be temperamental, but I'd rather give them what they = want.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I have a customer with a D.M.A. in piano performance who likes = her piano somewhat brighter than I like.  She has stated that she would = rather work harder for the pianissimo than to have to work so hard for the fortissimo.  It's her piano.  She spent thousands on it, and = it's hers, not mine.  I have another customer with an equal academic background who wants his piano darker than I would like.  He = claims that if he practices several hours on a piano that is brighter, his ears = fatigue and he misses little subtle nuances.  It's his piano, not = mine.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>If we remember who bought and paid for the instruments I guess = it's up to us to give them what they want, or gather up our pots and pans and leave.  I'd rather stay.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>dave</DIV><PRE>_____________________________ David M. Porritt dporritt@mail.smu.edu Meadows School of the Arts Southern Methodist University Dallas, TX 75275 _____________________________</PRE></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>