Hi. It's Nevin Essex. I'm new on the CAUT list. My first reply. Tell me if I do something wrong. In regard to the lacquering of new hammers: I think it's important to apply as heavy a solution as possible in a big grand piano like a Baldwin or Steinway D. The last time I did it, I used 2:1. And the solution must soak in under the strike point. It shouldn't just penetrate the shoulders and stay there. It's to your advantage not to apply directly through the crown or you'll be needling all day, but it should wick in under the crown. Smaller pianos don't require as heavy a solution. Thanks, Nevin On Thu, Nov 20, 2008 at 6:08 PM, Paul T Williams < pwilliams4 at unlnotes.unl.edu> wrote: > > Thanks, Jim > > > I'm having trouble with my Ronsen Wurzens on my Baldwin D, but am scared to > start putting stuff on the crown. I've used 4:1 Laquer/Acetone a bunch on > the shoulders (middle down to the bottom) with no improvement on power. > The false beats are gone and the sustain is great after installing Wapin on > it, but I fear a lot of the problem may be a tired soundboard. If I were to > add a 5:1 or 4 or 3:1 on the crown, or nearly on the crown, am I endangering > the situation? Or, would you suggest putting any straight on the crown? The > mezzo-forte on down to very ppp or pppp...the piano is lovely and the notes > sing and carry to the back of the recital hall(that seats 750), but there's > just no power. > > What do you, or any of you suggest my next play??? > > Thanks > > Paul > > > > *Jim Busby <jim_busby at byu.edu>* > Sent by: caut-bounces at ptg.org > > 11/20/2008 02:44 PM > Please respond to > caut at ptg.org > > To > "caut at ptg.org" <caut at ptg.org> cc > Subject > Re: [CAUT] tone building for impatient pianists > > > > > Paul, > > I'm using 5/1 with these hammers. Kent suggested 5/1, since they already > had 3/1. > > Jim > > *From:* caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] *On Behalf Of *Paul > T Williams* > Sent:* Thursday, November 20, 2008 12:45 PM* > To:* caut at ptg.org* > Subject:* Re: [CAUT] tone building for impatient pianists > > > Jim, > > What is your juice ratio you now use with these new S&S hammers? > > Paul > > *Jim Busby <jim_busby at byu.edu>* > Sent by: caut-bounces at ptg.org > > 11/20/2008 12:05 PM > > > Please respond to > caut at ptg.org > > > To > "caut at ptg.org" <caut at ptg.org> cc > Subject > Re: [CAUT] tone building for impatient pianists > > > > > > > > > Hi Dennis, > > The voicing procedure today at the factory is vastly different than say 2 > years ago. I think you'd be surprised at how quickly the hammers can now be > voiced/juiced. > > Last month I attended the Steinway Tone Building Seminar and came away with > a few ideas I might share. > 1. I like now like Steinway hammers and the way they voice. > (Previously, not so much) > 2. The hammers can be ready to play in three voicing sessions. The > Steinway C&A guys do it all the time. > 3. They are now pre-juiced more than before. My understanding is that > the pre-voicing consists of literally soaking the hammer in a tray. > 4. You voice for two things "Body", by applying MUCH less than before > to the shoulders ( a few drops at a time) , and "Attack", by adding only 3 > drops at a time (3/1) to the crown. > 5. Single needle through the strings right in a "too bright" string > mark > 6. More juice where needed as above. Carefully listening, a drop > here and there… > 7. Sand/mate, etc. etc. as before > > They are using MUCH less juice in this stage than previously used because > the hammers have far more in the factory -juicing phase. For instance, a > small bottle (4 oz?) is now used which lasts through the whole procedure. We > used to put 3 or 4 times that much, pouring it in!. Now it's a matter of > only a few drops at a time, judiciously applied. > > Of course, trying to condense down the whole week into one small post can't > quite hit the mark, but these two things I want to stress; 1. I like it > (didn't before) and 2. A much more surgical approach is taken. > > > Hope that helps Dennis. > > Jim Busby BYU > > * > From:* caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] *On Behalf Of *Dennis > Johnson* > Sent:* Tuesday, November 18, 2008 2:31 PM* > To:* College and University Technicians* > Subject:* [CAUT] tone building for impatient pianists > > Hi- > > Some recent experiences lead me to inquire how others may deal with certain > impatient expectations regarding tone building on new hammers, specifically > S&S hammers that require extra juicing in the treble. This is all standard > procedure, but generally my experience shows that the best results are > achieved not quickly but through a combination of playing in, hardeners and > needles over a bit of time. Unfortunately, the event calender rarely allows > for optimal time. Do you send a memo to everyone explaining all this? I've > had similar problems as related to instability on a newly restrung piano > being required for certain events before it is ready. > > Thanks, but having a bad day- > > Dennis Johnson > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://ptg.org/pipermail/caut_ptg.org/attachments/20081120/b874b046/attachment.html>
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