Voicing the new piano

[Joe And Penny Goss]

Susan,
Yes you can soften the point too much with steam. But the point is that it
is easily reversed by a little ironing. Treat steaming like you would
needeling in directing the steam to the point the needle would go knowing
that the iron can be used to bring the hammer back.
Of course if over steamed, the hammers are now mush, so sneak up on the tone
you want.
Joe Goss
imatunr@srvinet.com
www.mothergoosetools.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "SUSAN P SWEARINGEN" <ssclabr8@flash.net>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Friday, July 12, 2002 7:43 AM
Subject: Re: Voicing the new piano


> Hello,
>
> But aren't you in danger of also softening the strike point when you use
> steam??
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Tom Servinsky" <tompiano@gate.net>
> To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
> Sent: Friday, July 12, 2002 5:32 AM
> Subject: RE: Voicing the new piano
>
>
> > David,
> > Anyway you slice it, voicing is a temporary state.  The more the piano
is
> > played the more temporary the voicing will remain. That being said, and
> > believe it or not, steaming can have a unusually long lasting effect on
> > maintaining the basic shape of sound. I'm not sure of the complete
> > scientific analysis of what's happening but I think steaming forces hot
> air
> > pockets into the felt causing the felt layers to separate which creates
> > "cushions", which in turn causes the hammer to react favorably when
> > impacting with the string. Comparing that to excessive needling, which
is
> > constantly tearing the felt fibers, steaming is a much more holistic
> > approach to voicing. Longer lasting and less destruction to the hammer
> felt.
> > Tom Servinsky,RPT
> >
> >
> > From: owner-pianotech@ptg.org [mailto:owner-pianotech@ptg.org]On Behalf
> > Of David Ilvedson
> > Sent: Thursday, July 11, 2002 7:16 PM
> > To: pianotech@ptg.org
> > Subject: Re: Voicing the new piano
> >
> >
> > Roger,
> >
> > What do you think is going on with the new hammer in those 6 months?  Is
> the
> > compaction only on the surface and not really getting down into the
> hammer?
> > What is the sound like when your done with the ironing?  Anything like
the
> > original?  Does it really last 6 months?  I'm not familiar with your
> > steaming method...haven't been to a convention in awhile...article in
the
> > Journal?
> >
> > David I.
> >
> >
> >
> > ----- Original message ---------------------------------------->
> > From: Baldwin Yamaha Piano Centre <baldwin@mta-01.sk.sympatico.ca>
> > To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
> > Received: Thu, 11 Jul 2002 13:01:29 -0600
> > Subject: Re: Voicing the new piano
> >
> > >Hi David,
> > >                 A very light steaming over the crown every 6 months
can
>
> > >greatly extend the life of those hammers. We have done it with some
U1's
> in
> > >University practice studios for 5 yrs now, and no reshaping as of yet.
> The
> > >light steaming will just pop the grooves out. Dry iron after to set the
> > felt.
> > >Less invasive than needling.
> > >Regards Roger
> >
> > >At 11:28 PM 7/10/02 -0700, you wrote:
> > >>These are SF Ballet's studio pianos.  Played by high level musicians
for
> > >>high level dance.  Classes always use pianists and pianos.  We just
> > >>swapped our 20 year old Kawais for the Yamahas.  I'm looking for some
> > >>discussion on what is happening with the piano hammer over time,
> > >>especially with the new hammer.  I think I'll probably hold off on the
> > >>Ronsen hammers for awhile...;-]  I'm not particularly keen on steam
but
> as
> > >>I get desperate who knows?  Right now the pianos sound wonderful and I
> > >>have this fantasy of keeping them that way...;-]
> > >>
> > >>David I.
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>----- Original message ---------------------------------------->
> > >>From: David Love <davidlovepianos@earthlink.net>
> > >>To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
> > >>Received: Wed, 10 Jul 2002 21:53:43 -0700
> > >>Subject: Re: Voicing the new piano
> > >>
> > >> >What are the expectations on the pianos and what are they used for?
> Are
> > >> >they practice pianos?  Teaching pianos?  New pianos or old pianos?
My
> > >> >experience is that heavily used Yamaha's are difficult to keep
voiced
> to
> > an
> > >> >acceptable level without less traditional methods such as steaming.
> > >> >Steaming is also an easy method for voicing down the uprights where
> the
> > >> >hammers are not so needle accessible.  Overall the pianos will
benefit
> > from
> > >> >string seating, proper hammer shaping and fitting.  If the clangy
> rattly
> > >> >sounds disappear when you mute the duplex on the tuning pin side (on
> the
> > >> >grands), and if you are not steaming, shoulder needling followed by
> > single
> > >> >needles inserted off the strike point straight down parallel to the
> > moulding
> > >> >will eliminate those noises).  Heavily used Yamaha hammers are a
> > challenge.
> > >> >A more radical move would be changing the hammers to a nice soft
> Ronsen
> > >> >hammer which will do wonders for voicing stability and rounding out
> the
> > >> >tone.
> > >>
> > >> >Generally, the hammer will compact most quickly over the crown, more
> > slowly
> > >> >in the shoulder.
> > >>
> > >> >David Love
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> >----- Original Message -----
> > >> >From: "David Ilvedson" <ilvey@sbcglobal.net>
> > >> >To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
> > >> >Sent: July 10, 2002 5:41 PM
> > >> >Subject: Voicing the new piano
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> >List,
> > >>
> > >> >I would interested in hearing input about maintaining new pianos.
> > >> >Particularly voicing.  I have a new fleet of 9 Yamaha pianos (is
that
> a
> > >> >fleet?) I am servicing on a very regular basis...carte blanc.  1 C5,
3
> > C2s,
> > >> >3 U1s and 2 P22s.  Another P22 in the near future.  These pianos are
> > played
> > >> >6 days a week for several hours each day.
> > >>
> > >> >How does playing affect the new hammer, or any hammer?  Where is the
> > >> >compaction taking place?  What do you do with the clangy, rattlely
> sound
> > in
> > >> >the trebIe when it shows in ugly face.  I have my own techniques,
but
> > I'm
> > >> >interested in what others do.
> > >>
> > >> >Thanks in advance
> > >>
> > >> >David I.
> >
> > >Roger
> >
> >
>