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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hi all,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I just wanted to thank you all for =
sharing your
knowledge with me this past year. I've enjoyed learning so much =
about
pianos and look forward to learning much more.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I was very pleased with myself this =
week, as I
applied much of what I learned to servicing my little Hamilton =
studio.
This was its first tuning/servicing since Isabel hit. The poor =
instrument
rode out the entire hurricane in a cargo trailor parked on high ground, =
with
trees crashing to the ground all around it. Miraculously it was =
spared,
and it didn't have to endure the humidity any longer than a couple of
days. When we got it back in the house (which was also
miraculously spared), the pitch stabilized to about 20 cents =
flat, and
the let-off was out of whack on a few notes. I finally had the =
time
yesterday to open the instrument up and work on it.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I started with tuning, of course. =
I'm proud
to have done what I consider to be my first really good tuning. It =
sounds
sweet and vibrant, with just the right amount of stretch. =
Wow!! Next
I did voicing. I had never, never been satisfied with the voicing on the =
piano,
whether I had done it or whether I had hired a tech. The sound had =
always
been extremely harsh. The only time I remember it not being harsh, =
it was
lifeless -- when a tech mashed the hammers liberally with pliers. =
Still
they quickly hardened back up to the consistency of tool steel. =
This week
I tried steam voicing (with a clothing steamer) and was very impressed =
with the
results. I need to work on the low treble a bit more, but I'm =
definitely
on the right track. The bass benefitted the most. It's now =
very nice
and full, yet well defined. The sound is now rather sweet -- =
nothing I
would have expected from this instrument. I was very proud when my =
stepson
played my piano this Christmas. He probably didn't notice it =
sounded
good. His sister probably didn't notice or appreciate =
either. But I
was very proud of my work. Thanks, everyone!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>By the way, when I get a chance, I'm =
going to post
some pics of a next-door neighbor's piano. It would seem to be a =
rather
rare model -- not the nicest piano in the world (understatement), but =
definitely
novel -- and really very cute. It's a Wurlitzer "butterfly" baby
grand. I'd call it a micro-grand -- looks almost like a child's =
toy.
I would guess from a glance (all I got) that it's about an octave short =
of a
full keyboard. Circa 1940's? The keytops of this fine =
instrument are
plastic and quite crackled. The soundboard is amazingly intact, =
considering
that it sat in a flooded house -- elevated inches above the water,
fortunately. I think y'all would enjoy seeing it, and I know the =
owner
would enjoy finding out more about her piano.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Anyway, thanks again, all of you, for =
sharing your
knowledge with me! And thank you for the satisfaction I felt
yesterday and today when my little Hamilton sounded better =
than I ever
remember it having sounded! That means a lot to me, since it =
is the
piano I learned on almost 35 years ago.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Peace,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Sarah</FONT></DIV>
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