To Step in It

[Dan M. Hallett, Jr.]

Joseph Alkana wrote:
>
> At 06:02 PM 3/30/97 -0800, you wrote:
> >List:  Last week I had one of those service calls that I did everything
> >wrong!
> >And don't forget my question.  Could the piano have sounded much sweeter at
> >38cents flat without all those high harmonic overtones?
> >
> >Carol Beigel
> >
>
> Carol,
> I really enjoyed your story, in fact I shared it with my wife because there
> have been times that I, too, wound up in the same type of situation. Sharing
> your thoughts was very enlightening for her.
>
> I cannot speak scientifically  about those higher harmonics being so much
> more prevalent at pitch, but I do believe they are much more piercing to the
> ear when you start socking in those unisons. ( Thank God I now wear
> earplugs!) Listening to a piano of that type (Korean, high tension scale,
> possible laminate soundboard) right after tuning always seems to make a
> strong case for voicing. I now call the customer in by the piano to
> demonstrate a voiced hammer so that comparisons can be made. Also the "nasty
> sound" now coming out of the piano is reviewed with the customer and
> explained as best as possible, along with possible remedies.
> Steve Brady and Susan Willanger  demonstrated a technique of hammer steaming
> at a PTG chapter meeting here in Seattle. The effect of the voicing was
> about as dramatic as anything I've seen demonstrated yet on a piano. For me
> and my customers, this is now the best option to start with in any remedial
> action regarding voicing of those Asian pianos.
>
> I now have "steamed"  about 50 pianos in the manner they demonstrated with
> generally good reception from my clients. On three occassions I had a
> complaint that the volume was attenuated to some degree. Students of one
> teacher client were saying the the piano sounded like it had a rag stuffed
> in the piano. These complaints, however, were completely stopped after a
> small amount of time had gone by. Either people got used to the sound or
> else the sound changed slightly back to a crisper, clearer tone. I hesitate
> to say brighter, because that was the tone quality we were trying to
> eliminate. Now,  when I voice with steam, I really pound the hammers into a
> voicing block to put back a slight edge to the tone just before I quit
> working. That has made a real difference  in the first perceptions of the
> voicing.
>
> Thanks again for sharing your story with us.
>
> Joseph Alkana RPT
Dear Joseph:
Would - and could - you describe the steaming process.
Dan Hallett, Jr.
Registered Piano Technician
dhalle@toolcity.net