Question

David Ilvedson ilvey@jps.net
Tue Oct 3 23:38 MDT 2000


I can agree to NY Steinway hammers for now...thanks for the comments

David I.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-caut@ptg.org [mailto:owner-caut@ptg.org]On Behalf Of Michael
> Jorgensen
> Sent: Tuesday, October 03, 2000 5:21 AM
> To: caut@ptg.org
> Subject: Re: Question
>
>
> Hi David,
>      I wrote what I do below.
>
> David Ilvedson wrote:
>
> > That is the trick isn't it.  How to get a piano to project
> without breaking
> > up in FFF?  Do we just say this is the piano's sound and take
> or leave it,
> > or do you do something?  If so what
>
>     I don't mean do nothing! except if it can't be better.  First
> analyze!,
> think!  experiment on one note!, take a break! think and listen some more!
> Possibilities include deep needling shoulders, mate strings to
> hammers, check
> hammer travel, all regulation including key frame bedding, check
> pinning,   I
> assume by "breaking up" you mean the tone is not holding together
> at fff.  If
> you mean it gets harsh, deep needling into strike point,
> everything slowly,
> thoughtfully.
>       Hammers and regulation are not the source of every problem,
> could be the
> soundboard, acoustics, and/or a pianists touch, or a combination.
>  No mechanic
> can keep a race car driver from pushing too hard and smashing
> into the wall.
>
> >
> >  You have a new piano, it is played
> > for a season and during that time what typically are you doing
> to maintain
> > the voice?  Where will you be needling or whatever?
>
> Keep it locked;  Control humidity;  Any of the above and more as
> needed,   No
> two sets of hammers respond exactly alike, whatever works.
>
> > How will you decide when to put on
> > a new set of hammers during the life of that instrument?
>
> 1. When the sound is bad (thin and raspy usually) and no known voicing
> technique cures,
> 2. When the string grooves are long such that filing would cause
> regulation and
> tone problems, (too small, to light , or too hard of hammer).
> 3.  Sound Rules!  Never replace bad looking hammers that sound
> and feel great.
>
> We ought to keep this to one type of hammer, say NY Steinway.
> The magnitude of
> the questions just too great.
> -mike
>
>



This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC