[CAUT] Alcohol/water on Yamaha hammers

[Ric Brekne]

I cant speak for any CFIII over there, but on the CFIII-S that we have 
this would be completely unneccesary and would just plain wreck the set 
of hammers. On our instrument the hammers need only moderate needling at 
any time... and that included the first voicing at the factory.

Now if your instrument is an old CF and has rock hard hammers... well 
perhaps... if the guy knows what he's doing.

In spite of all... I would offer my own cautions to the head of the 
piano department and put the ball squarely in his/her camp.  Let the 
professors and assistant professors hash it out.  And if they vote for 
the outside source, turn it into a positive by enthusiastically 
embracing what you "expect" to be a valuable learning experience.  If it 
goes bad.... well then you've learned what not to do, and you have 
emolsifried yourself from all blame responsibilty ahead of time.

Cheers
RicB

...............

List:

I have a Yamaha CFIII here at UM.  Because of a political situation too
complex to describe, an adjunct piano faculty here wants to bring in his
"personal technician" to voice and regulate the piano.  He wants to use
an alcohol/water solution on the hammers to voice.  The last piano he
did this on (a Kawai KG-2D) was turned to mush, and I am concerned that
is what would happen to our 9' Yamaha.  Do any of you have experience
using this solution on Yamaha hammers, and have they been good or bad?  
Of course, I'm not happy about them bringing in this other "tech", but
it may be unavoidable due to the politics.  Thanks for any input.

Jeff Stickney
University of Montana