Help (please)! Voicing the Yamaha hammer

[Thomas A. Sheehan]

Dear colleagues -

I'm finishing up a hammer replacement on a Yamaha DC7 Disklavier in a
recording studio. They're going to start using it on Monday. I replaced
the original hammers with a set of pre-hung Yamaha hammers, with shanks
and flanges attached. They are Yamaha DC7 hammers, but were made prior
to the newer Yamaha sound (kinder, gentler, _softer_ hammer).

These things are absolute bricks! I'm wanting to get that rich full
"bloom" in the tone that I've heard in many Yamahas. Unfortunately,
using the techniques that have stood me well on other Yamahas don't seem
to be working here.

I've done my needling very carefully and precisely, starting low down on
the shoulder just above the reinforcement dye. Then, I worked my way up
past 10 and 2 and then 11 and 1 o'clock positions. The needles were
extended a measured 6 mm. I'm using #7 sharps in the beautiful Renner
voicing tool. I've really mastered the Yamaha technique over the years:
vigorous "punches" with the tool to drive the needles deep into the
hammer. I can maintain accurate placement, sort of like a pianoman's
version of mumblety-peg <g>. But there's still too much high partial
content.

I'm a great beliver in the traditional ways of voicing (although I do
use Supertone instead of lacquer on Steinway hammers).

I'm hesitant to needle the crown. However, would it be appropriate in
this case, say with needles extended about 1 mm?

Any comments or advice from others who have been on this particular path
with Yamaha hammers would be most appreciated!

Thank you very much!

Sincerely,


Tom Sheehan, RPT
NYC Chapter
aquinas@nyct.net