Hi David, I think the steam just pops out the compacted area, the key is dry ironing with a warm iron to set the felt after the light steaming. Most of the damage done to hammers is compaction, NOT wear. You are just reversing the process with steam. A few of the Yamaha tech's that have attended my classes have said, " wow, you do mean controlled voicing." Usually in the class, I will voice adjacent hammers both ways, steam and traditional. Then ask if the class can tell the difference. <G> The steam is fast and expedient, particularly on verticals. Each process has it's place in our arsenal. Zero budget practice pianos I will steam down for nothing. Only takes about 10 mins. The time is regained on the tuning side, and gives the appearance of the tuning lasting longer. A bright screaming piano never quite sounds in tune to me, even after I have just finished tuning. No I will don my flame suit, and duck. Regards Roger At 04:15 PM 7/11/02 -0700, you wrote: >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 Roger
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