Hi Mark With the low sustain two things come to mind. Has the board lost it's crown? Using a dail type bearing gauge, check to see that you have .010- .015" of down bearing. Adjust the acujust if the board is good. If the bridge pins are loose you can also get that pingy low sustain tone. Regards Roger At 07:27 PM 2/13/01 -0600, you wrote: >Your replys are helpful in clarifying the problem. > >Rotating my head (no, not 360 degrees) makes the problem disappear. > >The hollow heads (I presume you were referring to the hammers, >Newton!)sounds plausible. > >Switching hammers around, how could I forget to do this!? > >Moving the piano(s) does not provide a difference; >two different pianos, two very different rooms/same sound. > >Have single needled through between crown and molding, >leads me to believe this effect (loud bong/no sustain)has nothing to do with >the hammer-felt whatsoever. > >Ths sound is distinctly "point source and directional." It comes right from >the area of the scale in which you are playing, and if your right ear is >angled towards the piano,.."wham!" > >The phenomenon is not subtle, and is apparent in individual notes as well as >intervals. > >Again, the idea of a glue hollow in the hammerhead(s)may fit. It also >suggests why two pianos of the same mfg. and vintage share the problem. >Especially knowing how this factory (and again, not to criticize) prepares >the butt end of the shank for glueing. > >More ideas are welcome, I will see this piano again within the next two >weeks to test them out. > >So nice to troubleshoot as a "team!" > >best regards, >Mark Cramer, >Brandon University > > > >----Original Message----- >From: owner-caut@ptg.org [mailto:owner-caut@ptg.org]On Behalf Of Mark >Cramer >Sent: Tuesday, February 13, 2001 2:52 PM >To: caut@ptg.org >Subject: psycho-acousti-what? > > >A year ago, a client told me she had several notes on her (Baldwin) console >that physically hurt her ear when she played them. > >I tried the notes, which were the first few above the tenor/treble break, >and noted they were a bit harsh, but thought (to myself) maybe she was >exagerating a bit. > >I tried them as major thirds, which she had been playing, and nothing. Then >I turned my head a bit in her direction, played them again, and "Ouch!" It >was as though someone was pressing their finger between my upper jaw-bone >and ear! >Definitely painful! > >I remember trying every bit of "voicing voodoo" I know, to no avail. Indeed, >I had forgotten about this til yesterday. A music teacher with a Baldwin (no >I'm not picking on brands) 52" vertical, who never seemed pleased with the >treble, said the magic words; "it hurts!" > >It's exactly the same phenomenon! At first listen, these hammers "sound" >soft at the crown, but hard, very hard in the shoulders. The sound is a big >muffled boom, but with little sustain. > >I went at C5 on the big upright with a single needle to probe the shoulder, >certain I would fined hardener,.. but nothing. The shoulder felt is soft, >much easeir to needle than a Renner, Yamaha, etc., even at the crown. I >needled all over the place, and could not change the sensation of the tone >one little bit! > >What is the problem? > >If you have experienced this, you will know exactly what I'm talking about, >and I would sure love to hear from you. Yes, especially if you've been able >to solve it. > >On my next visit, I'm taking a variety of hammers to test, but I'm not so >sure hammers are the problem!? > >thanks, as always > >Mark Cramer, >Brandon University >
This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC