Boston Hammer Voicing

[Farrell]

Hi Brian:  I started to send this privately because my questions are so
basic........but amazingly enough, there are always folks that know less
than yourself, and often have the same questions........so here goes.

Yes, Roger Jolly indicated that Boston has Kawai hammers. He also indicated
that they respond well to his steaming techniques - just don't over-do it.

Regarding your comment  - "..........Just a stab in the dark...  speaking of
which, there's always the standard
voicing tool.  If you're only trying to make minor changes, a well placed
prick or two with a needle might do exactly what you want?"

Yea, I suppose. I'm really inexperienced with voicing. How would you
approach a general toning down in a not-too-old piano. Unfortunately, I'm
likely trying to make an asian piano sound like an american or european
piano, so perhaps I may be limited in what can be done. But on the other
hand, folks in Japan play Beethoven, Chopin and Debussy, don't they? I hear
many play them well too! My inexperienced opinion would be to do a few
sample hammers and do a small amount of needling at a time in the
mid-to-upper shoulder. My wife really wants soft when heading for ppp. More
softness overall is also wanted. Maybe even a little needling under the
strike point and/or near. How does that sound to you? Can you ever undo
needling without resorting to hardeners? That is one of the things an
inexperienced voicer likes about Roger's steam voicing.

Ya know, I may have just talked myself into steaming first!

Terry Farrell
Piano Tuning & Service
Tampa, Florida
mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com
----- Original Message -----

From: "Brian Trout" <btrout@desupernet.net>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Monday, August 07, 2000 9:14 AM
Subject: Re: Boston Hammer Voicing


> Hi Terry,
>
> I have my doubts that Bostons would be using Yamaha hammers.  They're
being
> built under a 'Steinway name' by Kawai...
>
> I'd suspect maybe Kawai hammers. ??
>
> Just a stab in the dark...  speaking of which, there's always the standard
> voicing tool.  If you're only trying to make minor changes, a well placed
> prick or two with a needle might do exactly what you want.?
>
> Have a good one.  :-)
>
> Brian Trout
> Quarryville, PA
> btrout@desupernet.net
>
>
>