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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>There's nothing new here for the =
experienced
rebuilders, but others might learn a bit from my "journey." I've =
been a
tech since 1982, have lots of service, repair, =
voicing, concert &
recording prep experience, but had never ventured much into the world of =
action
rebuilding. So, what the heck, after a nice, long maternity leave, =
I
started off with a D located in a huge auditorium. Probably not =
where most
folks start off (and I certainly wouldn't recommend it!), but once I was =
satisfied with the actual rebuilding part--like, hanging the =
hammers
(the biggest challenge for me) the rest was my cup of =
tea.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>In the beginning--a 1975 Steinway D, =
poorly rebuilt
about 10 years ago. There were a number of problems.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>1. The administration expected =
the piano to
fill (without amplification) an acoustically dead hall that seats nearly =
3500.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>2. Because of this expectation,
the hammers were voiced like granite. Because they were =
voiced like
granite the front duplex of </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> the lower treble =
had been
muted. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>3. The knuckle mounting distance =
was around
15 mm.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>4. The hammers were too =
heavy.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>5. The combination of the knuckle =
mounting
distance, heavy hammers and sluggish action centers made for
an especially</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> heavy
touch. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Last spring I had been called in =
as a
consultant (you know, an expert that lives at least 50 miles =
away--though I
only live 40 miles away). I wrote up a report that recommended =
rebuilding
or replacement and gave some other suggestions on piano =
care.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Last fall I was asked to take on the =
tuning duties
at the auditorium. "Not unless I can make the piano sound and play =
better!" I replied. I was on my way.....</FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Here's what I did:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>First I needed to determine =
whether or not I
could use the existing hammers. They were barely worn Steinway =
hammers,
but *seriously* hardened. I have had a lot of experience =
working
with over-hardened hammers (it seems like all I ever work on are =
over-lacquered
hammers) and many folks would groan at my method of softening them, but, =
it
works very well for me. After giving an initial voicing, =
I
decided, yes, I could use them. That first voicing proved that I =
could
remove the muting material from the treble front duplex. =
Immediately there
was more power.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Next, I knew I needed to make a change =
with the
knuckle mounting distance. I was tempted to use the Kaplan knuckle =
moving
jig, but then there were local grumblings made about using =
Genuine New
York Steinway parts. There was a definite political aspect to =
this
job, so going with Genuine New York was preferable.
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>After changing out the hammer shanks =
for Steinway
shanks with 17mm knuckle mounting distance and replacing the wippens,
the down weights dropped significantly, but it still wasn't good
enough--especially in the treble.</FONT><FONT face=Arial =
size=2> At this
point the treble weighed off a *lot* higher than the =
bass---that was
sort of special. Keep in mind that I had not yet done a =
significant hammer shaping (or whatever you like to call it)--just =
a minor
one when I was testing the voicing.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>At this point, with new wippens, new =
shanks and the
old hammers, I had my first chance to tune and play the piano in =
the
auditorium (not in the basement where the piano resides). Oh =
my,
that treble "knock" reached all the way down into the high tenor =
section--every
time I tuned a note, I felt like I was getting whacked by a stick. =
Of
course, I realize part of that knock was due to some hall =
acoustics,
but it was one of the obvious clues about changing the hammer
weight.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Next, I tested for hammer weight =
(actually SW)
in regards to tone. I simply took the hammer assemblies of =
notes from
above (some a fifth, some even an octave) and installed them down =
in the
scale (yes, one has to re-regulate). An important detail to =
remember is
the piano already had an *even* voicing on it. The tone =
blossomed on
those notes (with the lighter hammers) and the touch weight was =
getting
more reasonable. It was a great way to get an idea =
of what
hammer weight to shoot for because my ear was the judge. I =
had
thought that with the initial voicing that the tone color =
progression from
soft to loud was good, but it was *nothing* compared to the lighter, or =
should I
say, hammers of a more appropriate weight. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>After "sculpting" the hammers and doing =
the best
regulation (including re-balancing the keys) and the absolute best =
voicing I've
ever done in my life, etc., the piano sounded great (just my opinion)--I =
thought
it was especially amazing because these were the same hammers that had
produced such ugly sounds earlier. Don't get the idea =
that the
voicing was accomplished in a couple sittings, though! =
Now it
can growl, sing sweetly and play just above a whisper. =
</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV></FONT>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I was under the impression that the =
auditorium
management had agreed that the piano would always be amplified, so I =
thought
all<FONT face=Arial size=2> I had to do was make this piano =
into a well
regulated, musical instrument. </FONT></FONT><FONT =
face=Arial
size=2>The piano's first (serious) major performance was last Friday =
night, with
the Illinois Symphony Orchestra (professional provincial group) with =
Yakov
Kasman (silver medallist, Van Cliburn competition '97) playing the =
Rachmaninov
<EM>Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini. </EM></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><EM><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT></EM> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>It turned out that the orchestra =
refused
amplification and I was worried the piano wouldn't carry the house when
accompanied by a full orchestra. But---it did! It was a =
sweet
success, and I received several compliments--the best one from a =
pianist I
know who always speaks exactly what's on her mind, "The piano sounded
fabulous------the nuances!" I also had compliments from members of =
the
orchestra. That was the big pay-off for me (well, I liked the =
money,
too.).</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT><FONT face=Arial =
size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I learned an incredible amount on this =
job. I
had posed the question a year ago last spring on this list =
about
whether or not bigger hammers were better for projection in a big place =
like
this. I can answer that now. No, they have to be juuuuuust =
right
(like Goldilocks and the three little bears). I even discovered =
that they
don't have to be voiced like granite to carry (at least in this =
hall). So
many of you helped me, whether you know it or not. Thanks to those =
of you
with whom I had private e-mail exchanges. It was amazing--several =
times
when I would have a question, someone on the list would oblige me and =
ask that
certain something I needed to know. I couldn't have done it =
without
you.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><FONT face=Arial size=2>If there is =
music to
describe my adventure, I would say it's Rossini's Overture to La
Cenerentola. Go have a listen--the tentative beginning, the =
building
crescendo and the joyous end. </FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Again, many thanks to all of =
you,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Barbara Richmond, RPT</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> </DIV></FONT>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
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