[CAUT] tone building for impatient pianists

[Chris Solliday]

It's alittle late but having arrived at your predicament on 7 8 and 9 foot pianos in bigger rooms I wished I could have gone back and put on wider hammers. I do now and feel I have a better voicing foundation. I do like R Wurzens but for smaller situations now. JMHO
Chris Solliday
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Paul T Williams 
  To: caut at ptg.org 
  Sent: Thursday, November 20, 2008 6:08 PM
  Subject: Re: [CAUT] tone building for impatient pianists



  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
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  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 


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  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 

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