I did this on a C-6 about six months ago, along with needles, and the pianist was very pleased. HOWEVER I was very very conservative, like two drops in the top up to about four in the bottom. INterestingly I was in a Don Manino voicing class at last convention I think, and they soaked a Kawai hammer for an hour in alcohol water. It made the hammer balloon badly. But with shaping, it sounded almost as good as the ones they voiced so carefully the conventional way. I voiced a piano for Olga Kern recently with Houston Symphony, and having never voiced hammers UP, I called Yamaha. This is David Reed's response to my note of thanks. Dear Mr. Bartlett Thank you so much for your kind words. I'm really glad everything worked out so well for you. We at Yamaha, and I personally, enjoy sharing knowledge with others. That way everyone benefits. Even though I gave you some information, YOU are the one who improved the piano and made it sing. So, don't underestimate yourself. If you ever need any other support, we are always here at Yamaha Piano Service. Thanks again David M. Reed Yamaha Corporation of America Piano Service Manager 714-522-9277 He was very helpful and was decidedly against any alcohol and water stuff. My sense is that really conservative use of the stuff only softens the very top layers and doesn't get to the underlying part of the felt. Wetting it enough to get all the way through has other costs. JMO..... I'd sure put pressure on the system, if possible, to use the Yamaha methods which they recommend. That has authority behind it, and seems significant for such a valuable instrument..... les bartlett -----Original Message----- From: caut-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces@ptg.org]On Behalf Of David Love Sent: Friday, January 06, 2006 7:31 PM To: 'College and University Technicians' Subject: RE: [CAUT] Alcohol/water on Yamaha hammers I wouldn't allow it. That type of voicing is for extreme cases. Needles will work very nicely on that instrument and that process is controllable. Water is not and neither is steam. Nor does it accomplish what proper voicing of that hammer is supposed to do. It's a lazy man's way of taking the edge off. Suggest they call the Yamaha technical people and ask them directly about water voicing their hammers. David Love davidlovepianos@comcast.net -----Original Message----- From: caut-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of Jeff Stickney Sent: Friday, January 06, 2006 4:51 PM To: Caut Subject: [CAUT] Alcohol/water on Yamaha hammers 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 _______________________________________________ caut list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives _______________________________________________ caut list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives
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